East Greenland is a 5-star nature experience, says Lars Peter Anker Møller, owner of Arctic Dream. This is why it is no wonder that kayaking, for instance, is growing as a tourism product in East Greenland. Tourists in East Greenland are primarily interested in the beautiful landscape, the powerful nature and have a desire to experience this in contact with our culture, explains Lars Peter Anker Møller, who sees an increasing number of requests from hiking tourists who wish to stay in the settlements.
Photography tours have also seen an increased interest, as well as smaller expedition ships among those who wish to experience the beautiful fjords and the ever-encompassing nature up close and personal, Mette Pike Barselajsen from Nanu Travel points out.
Lars Peter Anker Møller works with local engagement in tourism and wishes to develop his strong and reliable staff. For instance, after two steady years of work his baggage handler can now look forward to a certification course in boat proficiency.
In East Greenland everyone awaits the snow in order to start the winter products. Snow and ice are important for the local communities and their way of life, and the same can be said for dog sledding tourism.
The weather conditions often challenge winter tourism in East Greenland, and the worst case scenario is cancelled bookings, but in general there is a solid interest in and booking of winter trips in East Greenland.
Tasiilaq Tours and Arctic Dream have co-opened a campsite in Flower Valley. The goal is to have shower and toilet facilities for overnight guests and a large tent has been erected in which one can cook on a gas stove. Last spring, construction began of a bridge connecting the Flower Valley, the camp and the beginning of the hiking trail to Seamen’s Mountain. Over time the campsite is to have permanent tents so hikers only need to bring a sleeping bag.
In order to meet the increased demand for cruises in Tasiilaq, Tasiilaq Tours has made an investment for the 2020 season, a p-approved boat. This offers the possibility of increased flexibility and business development.
Icecamp Greenland is situated in the heart of the biggest icefjord, the Sermilik Fjord, which lies approximately 1.5 hours by boat from Tasiilaq. The camp consists of 5 lodges each with a private toilet, a service house with hot water shower facilities and a restaurant, all built authentically. Everything is built by hand, and the camp thus combines the local hunter lodge spirit with a quality oriented tourism product.
Thanks to the camp’s two Zodiacs, it is possible to visit the settlement of Tiniteqilaaq and its 70 inhabitants situated just 20 minutes away, and this offers a glimpse into the daily lives of the local Greenlanders. Whales and icebergs can be enjoyed on the boat ride to the settlement and one can fish for trout, catfish and cod and gather mussels right outside of the camp, so the menu is as much as possible based on fresh Greenlandic produce.
A successful professional proficiency course for 12 pax vessels was held in Tasiilaq in cooperation between Sermersooq Municipality, Nanu Travel and Destination East Greenland. The amount of sign-ups was good and several guides now hold this certificate.
Mette Pike Barselajsen will step down from her position in Nanu Travel at the end of November. The board is currently working to hire a new manager.
Tasiilaq Museum is closed due to vandalism, and it is as yet unclear when the museum will reopen. However, the Photo Museum has reopened after a refurbishment in the summer of 2019. Currently a H.C. Andersen exhibition is open until December. It will be followed by an exhibition of paintings by a local artist. The exhibition, with busts by Eigil Knuth from the 1930s, opens on Wednesday the 20th of November. It portrays 6 local people, their stories and links through family trees to living descendants. In the beginning of 2020, one can see a winter exhibition focusing on the East Greenlandic dogsledding tradition and its development.
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