Press release Wednesday 13 July, 2022
Greenland is great again – this time with Ilulissat being featured on the Times list of World’s Greatest Places to Visit in 2022. It has made the ranks among some of the most hyped places next to Galápagos Islands, Great Barrier Reef, International Space Station, Copenhagen, Miami and more.
It’s not the first time Greenland has made the Times Greatest Places list. In 2021, its capital Nuuk was the featured destination with its focus for sustainable and local development.
Ilulissat made it to the coveted Times list this year particularly for its icy education via the newly-built Ilulissat Icefjord Centre.
“Tourism and sustainability have historically had a difficult relationship. Greenland is looking to change that with a new attraction that focuses on this delicate balance, exploring the impacts of climate change.” states Time on its website.
For the locals of Greenland, this makes total sense.
The Mayor of Avannaata Kommunia, Palle Jerimiassen, says,
“Ilulissat is a world class destination, which recently became the first destination in Greenland to host a two-star Michelin restaurant in our settlement of Iimanaq. Besides this, the locals of North Greenland are known for being welcoming, and you will be able to experience this when you come to our town.”
Both the Ilulissat Icefjord Centre and KOKS were supported by the Realdania’s philanthropic association. Designed by architect Dorthe Mandrup, the Ilulissat Icefjord Centre is a centre for both science, community and design. That and the unveiling of two-star Michelin restaurant KOKS (in Greenland in 2022 and 2023), in the nearby settlement of Ilimanaq are two new reasons why you should visit Greenland in the near future.
Greenland has always been a destination for true adventurers, but it is slowly becoming more accessible to the world, with two new airports in Nuuk and Ilulissat currently under construction. By end 2024, there will be a real possibility to fly directly to Greenland from a North American or European hub!
For Visit Greenland’s acting director, Anne Nivika Grødem, the acclamation is an opportunity for Greenland to promote itself again broadly to the world, using Ilulissat as a spearhead for attention.
“Making these lists brings value by attracting world-wide attention to the place, but also the country. Ilulissat and other magnets like KOKS brings the media attention, which the tourism community can convert to interest in all of Greenland.”
With the establishment of the new airports, Greenland is opening up to the world and a lot of Greenland will be accessible within one hour’s flight.
“We must facilitate the sustainable development of tourism in our country carefully and we need to do this together with the knowledge of our local tourism actors, the wishes of the community, and gain the best from sparring with our international partners,” concludes Anne Nivika Grødem.
Visit Greenland
Acting Director Anne Nivika Grødem
Mail: nivika@visitgreenland.com
Tel: (+299) 56 02 82
www.visitgreenland.com
www.traveltrade.visitgreenland.com
Avannaata Kommunia
The Mayor of Avannaata Kommunia Palle Jerimiassen
Mail: paj@avannaata.gl
Tel: (+299) 56 59 81
https://avannaata.gl/
Avannaata Kommunia/Destination North Greenland
Tourism Advisor Suusaat Mathiassen
Mail: suma@avannaata.gl
Tel: (+299) 38 76 93
https://avannaata.gl/
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