#Sustainable tourism

Latest News

Woman relaxing in the bubble bath in the indoor swimming pool Malik in Nuuk in Greenland. Photo by Rebecca Gustafsson

Wellness Tourism

What comes to mind when you hear the phrase ‘wellness tourism’? A group of young women meditating on a beach? Someone receiving a calming massage in a luxury spa setting?
Hiker on top of Nasaasaaq - Arctic Circle Trail option. Photo by Lisa Germany

19 tourism trends for 2019

If you’re working with tourism in Greenland, it’s worth knowing the points which will come to shape 2019 and beyond.

Future Faces of Greenland’s Tourism Industry

Local guides play an important role in keeping tourism sustainable. Read here about a few of Greenland’s newest, and upcoming, local guides that you might work with one day.
Souvenir shopping at the Destination East Greenland office in Tasiilaq. By Mads Pihl

Be Sustainable - Buy Local

The sustainable tourism in Greenland is buying local services and goods. Read this article where we tell you how to find a full list of Greenlandic tour providers so you can work directly with the locals
Two kayaks paddling near an iceberg in the Disko Bay in Greenland. By Mads Pihl

Responsible Tourism Rising in Greenland

Sustainable tourism is “Tourism that takes full account of its current and future economic, social and environmental impacts, addressing the needs of visitors, the industry, the environment and host communities.”  UNWTO, World Tourism Organisation. Sustainable and responsible tourism in Greenland is on the rise. Read more about the 13 tourism providers or operators who are doing some great work.
Tiny houses and MS Fram in Upernavik in Greenland. By Mads Pihl

Port readiness - An Easy and Manageable Preparation for the Cruise Season

The Port Readiness Program has been compiled to inform cruise destinations about the opportunities for local revenue, higher employment and planning of tours in relation to the development of the industry.
View of Nipisat Island. Photo by Per Arnesen - Visit Greenland

AECO’s Site-specific Guidelines and Greenland

We hear a lot about ‘guidelines’ in relation to Arctic tourism, and it can be difficult to stay on top of what each of them mean, where they are implemented and how they affect you as a member of the tourism industry.
A dog musher preparing his sled dogs for a trip in Ilulissat in Greenland. Photo by Mads Pihl.

A Quality Label Scheme for the Tourism Industry in Greenland

Tourism is growing and this growth is expected to continue with the new airports. Both the industry and Visit Greenland want this growth to be based on quality in the experiences and products that Greenland offers.
Cruise guests in Nanortalik in South Greenland studying a map of town

Cruise workshop with focus on COVID-19 and sustainability

COVID-19 has damaged the tourism industry, and the prospects for the cruise tourism season in 2020 are particularly unsure.
A tour guide entertaining guests on a town walk in Ilulissat in Greenland. By Mads Pihl

10 easy ways to make your tourism business more sustainable

how do you implement more sustainability into your business in practice?
View Point In Nuuk. Photo by Matthew Littlewood - Visit Greenland

Nuuk aims to be the first certified sustainable capital with EarthCheck

Nuuk, the capital of Greenland, is on its way to being the first capital city in the world to be certified under the EarthCheck Destination Standard.

Visit Greenland director gives thanks and evaluates

“I am proud to have put responsible tourism with a focus on sustainability on the agenda.” On the 26th of February, Julia Pars will have her last day at the office in Nuuk.

Letter from the new director

One of the most important things in times of crisis is to understand the impact that it has on people's behaviour. When tourism starts again, it will not be the same as it was before.

Visit Greenland beats CNN to win the Oscars of the Internet

It was a great honour for the Kingdom of Denmark when Greenland’s tourism board, Visit Greenland, on Tuesday won a Webby People's Voice Award, also known as the Oscars of the Internet, for their self-produced video "The Future of Travel in Greenland".
Four women waving hello in Narsaq in South Greenland. Photo by Mads Pihl

COVID-19 has made the population more positive towards tourists

The Greenlandic population has in general become more positive towards tourists. This is according to a new report made by Visit Greenland.
Assaqutaq Sisimiut hike tour group - Aningaaq R. Carlsen, Visit Greenland-min

The tourism industry lost up to 400 million in 2020

2020 was a tough year for the tourism industry in Greenland. The COVID-19 crisis meant redundancies and financial losses for the industry.

New joint marketing efforts to boost tourism in Greenland

With a new joint effort in the period 2021 - 2022, Visit Greenland and the regional DMOs are intensifying their work and cooperation.
Hiking the Tasermiut fjord. Photo - Aningaaq R. Carlsen, Visit Greenland

Tourism in Greenland should be restarted with sustainability first on the agenda

Let's kickstart a strong and resilient tourism industry with sustainability - economic sustainability, social and cultural sustainability, and environmental sustainability.
Sunrise over snow covered, Nuuk. Photo - Rebecca Gustafsson , Visit Greenland

Nuuk's certification as a sustainable capital will benefit the entire Greenlandic tourism industry

The news that Nuuk has been certified by EarthCheck as the first capital city in the world to become a sustainable tourism destination brings joy to the tourism industry.
Dogsledding Musher Twins. Photo - Aningaaq R. Carlsen, Visit Greenland

The Journey

Greenland is embarking on a journey, somewhat forced by the rapid changes in the climate, somewhat voluntarily in the way we choose to adapt. We are inviting the upcoming leaders in sustainable tourism to join us. To come with us on this journey through time – and to a place like no other.
Three hikers in the mountains near Qernertivartivit not far from Kulusuk in East Greenland. Photo by Mads Pihl - Visit Greenland

What is sustainable tourism in Greenland?

Liz Cooper, Industrial PhD Candidate at Visit Greenland, takes us through her first piece of research and presents 4 key points of debate, and 8 priorities for sustainable tourism development in Greenland.
Cruise guests on a bench in front of the Knud Rasmussen rock in Nanortalik in South Greenland. Photo by Mads Pihl - Visit GreenlandMads Pihl - Visit Greenland

Improving tourists' overall experiences of Greenland

In September 2021, Visit Greenland, in collaboration with Greenland Travel, conducted a large survey investigation among potential and previous tourists to Greenland.
Diskobay Tours Frank og Nivé edited final

The winner of Greenland Tourism Award 2021 has been found

The winner of Greenland Tourism award 2021 is now decided and a tourism operator from the Disko Bay Region wins
Tourists on a bot in Nuuk Fjord

Visit Greenland's new simplified segmentation model

Visit Greenland has developed a new simplified segmentation model with only 3 segments, instead of the original's 11 segments

Green Greenland for the climate and the future

In the most literal sense, Greenland is positioned as the still-frozen epicentre of climate change. The population is on the front line with temperature increases three times higher than the world average.
Low mosses and flowers on a hiking trail in East Greenland. By Mads Pihl

A ban on oil and gas exploration puts Greenland on the green scoreboard

The commercial interest is not considered high enough for Greenland to be responsible for the climate, environmental and natural risks associated with oil and gas extraction. As the first Arctic nation, Greenland is putting an end to this extraction.
A waterfall in the forest near Narsarsuaq. Photo by Mads Pihl.

Renewable energy colours the Greenlandic geographical map green

Greenland’s proportion of green energy varies from town to town to settlement. With an agreement on new hydroelectric plants in Qasigiannguit and Aasiaat and the expansion of the existing one in Nuuk, green energy should spread across the Greenlandic geographical map.
Qeqertarsuatsiaat is a village south of Nuuk in Greenland. Photo by Mads Pihl - Visit Greenland

Rubies, a story of traceable and exclusive Greenlandic gemstones

Beautiful deep red rubies, a colour that symbolises good luck in China, are also something Greenland has to offer. Near the settlement of Qeqertarsuatsiaat, 4-5 hours south of Nuuk, lies Greenland’s ruby mine.
Sarfaq Ittuk with ice in the foreground near the Ilulissat ice fjord in Greenland. By Mads Pihl

The tourism industry - a story of adaptation to a changing climate

Climate change poses challenges to traditional livelihoods and hunting practices. More people are turning to the tourism industry to support themselves, and they are worth their weight in gold.
Lumpfish roe bite. Photo by Greenland In A Bite by Greenlandic Foodlover - Visit Greenland

Local food sources and vegetables grown in Greenland

Greenland can impress with wild-caught meat and fish - animals that have lived the best free life. Therefore, Greenland turns the vegetarian’s fundamental narrative of deprivation and climate footprint on its head, as all other food has to be shipped to the country and leaves a large carbon footprint.
View Point In Nuuk. Photo by Matthew Littlewood - Visit Greenland

Nuuk's certification

The news that Nuuk, as the first capital city in the world, has been certified as a sustainable tourist destination by EarthCheck is a source of joy in the tourism industry.
first glimpse of Ilulissat Icefjord. Photo - Lisa M. Burns, Visit Greenland

Greenlandic UNESCO Sites - a story of ownership and local pride

Greenland has miles of magnificent unspoiled nature and colourful culture-filled settlements that do not need a UNESCO accreditation to be appreciated by visitors. However, UNESCO is an iconic brand that sells, guaranteeing visitors that they will experience a unique place.

Sustainability in Greenland

Human, social, economic and environmental sustainability. Meet various topics to talk about sustainability in Greenland.
Anne Nivika Grødem, Acting CEO at Visit Greenland giving a speech at Future Greenland 2022. Photo by Greenland Business Association

The brand value of a sustainable Greenland

On the 18th of May in 2022, Anne Nivíka Grødem, Acting Director of Visit Greenland attended the Future Greenland event and gave a speech about the brand value of a sustainable Greenland.

Switching focus: From more tourism to better tourism

From 25-27 April 2023, more than 100 private and public tourism operators from all over Greenland were gathered in Nuuk for the Towards Better Tourism (TBT) conference.

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In late August, the Disko Bay and alignment of the sunset are a match made in heaven. Here's one image captured while on a tour with World of Greenland. By Stian Klo

Latest News

All the latest and most interesting articles on Greenland. Browse the collection of articles and commentary and interesting facts about Greenland.
A large crowd of people gathered at the church in Nanortalik in South Greenland. Photo by Mads Pihl - Visit Greenland

Strategy

The Visit Greenland tourism strategy 2021-2024 is based on the new national tourism strategy in order to respond to the changes, we have observed in the ...
PGI Greenland kayakers paddling past Oqaatsut in the Disko Bay in Greenland. By Mads Pihl

What is adventure travel in Greenland?

What is Adventure Travel in Greenland? How Visit Greenland works with it?
Greenland Outdoors owner and kayaking guide Jens-Pavia Brandt in his right element near Kangerlussuaq in Greenland. Photo by Mads Pihl

Adventure in Practice - Greenland Outdoors

Jens-Pavia Brandt’s company Greenland Outdoors specialises in combining kayaking, wildlife tours, storytelling, and hiking in the backcountry around Kangerlussuaq.
Male musk ox mooing. Photo by Magnus Elander

Framework conditions

Natural and cultural resources are the building blocks for adventure tourism, and public-private collaboration on preservation and protection can create a platform for sustainable resource management and future business development.
Two people kayaking next to large icebergs in crystal clear water. Photo by Arctic Dream

Adventure in Practice - Travellodge Greenland

Travellodge Greenland in East Greenland has created strong adventure tourism products. It is now a growing business based on local knowledge, passion and a desire to make a difference in the local community.
A coffee break in front of an iceberg on a PGI Greenland kayak trip in Greenland. By Mads Pihl

Shared responsibility

Partnership between companies in a supply chain can be critical for local and global implementation of business development based on sustainable and responsible business practice.

Adventure Travel Trade Association

Read how Visit Greenland uses the global Adventure Travel Trade Association network work with adventure tourism industry in Greenland.
Vestnorden 2022 - Photo Aningaaq R. Carlsen - Visit Greenland 84

Trade Shows

The list of trade shows, workshops and fairs in which Visit Greenland takes part.

Our Pledge Towards Better Tourism

Through reflection on our oldest tale of Sassuma Arnaa, we're committed to sustainable tourism in harmony with nature, people, and culture.