Greenland’s big tourism push: Why the world’s largest island wants more visitors

Whale watching, iceberg treks and virtually assured Northern Lights – why wouldn’t you wish to go to Greenland? But tourism within the nation is a comparatively younger enterprise, and one which the world’s largest island is eager to develop.

Greenland is searching for to diversify its financial system. About 90 per cent of its exports at the moment come from fishing, however relying so closely on a single business is seen as probably dangerous. 

The federal government is aiming for tourism to achieve 40 per cent of its export worth by 2035. Though tourism isn’t ‘exported’ as such, it brings international cash into the nation, so is classed as an financial export. 

To place that into context, the tourism income generated in 2023 (€250 million) would wish to triple within the subsequent decade to return near 40 per cent of Greenland’s export worth. 

So the island is hoping to draw many extra intrepid travellers to its shores in 2025, with a singular providing of distant seclusion and bucket-list Arctic actions.

One large purpose it will likely be simpler to go to Greenland

In October 2024, the capital of Greenland, Nuuk, formally opened its new worldwide airport. Though there was an airport in Nuuk since 1979, its runway was too quick for big airliners to make use of, and flights had been restricted to small turboprop and regional jet plane.

Now, the runway has greater than doubled in size to 2,200 metres and a brand new terminal has been constructed. Main airways with giant passenger jets are in a position to fly in and join the island’s capital on to locations all over the world.

“Beforehand, Nuuk didn’t have a sufficiently lengthy runway or appropriate terminal for continuous flights to Europe or past,” notes airline route analyst James Pearson.

“This meant that Air Greenland’s A330s needed to fly from Kangerlussuaq, with most passengers connecting on to Nuuk,” he says. “Nuuk’s enhanced services shall be important for tourism and financial growth.”

A number of airways have already made a transfer to start serving Nuuk in 2025. United Airways will launch a nonstop flight from Newark, simply outdoors New York on the East Coast of the US. The route begins from 14 June, initially scheduled to function seasonally till 25 September.

Becoming a member of United is Scandinavian airline SAS, which is able to start flights from Copenhagen in June. SAS has served Greenland on and off for many years however can now hook up with the capital with a bigger plane. 

SAS famous its Danish roots and historic hyperlinks to Greenland, saying it’s “with a particular humility and delight that we now totally resume this position.” It added, “We hope that with our new path to Nuuk, we can assist assist this growth and enhance progress and employment in Greenlandic society.”

Additionally working out of the brand new airport are Icelandair, connecting the island to Keflavik, and residential flag service Air Greenland. In addition to its long-established path to Copenhagen, Air Greenland is including connections to Aalborg and Billund for summer time 2025.

Whereas it’s nonetheless early days for the brand new airport, hopes are excessive that extra worldwide airways will start service. 

And it’s not simply Nuuk that’s getting an aviation improve. Ilulissat within the north and Qaqortoq within the south each plan to open a global airport by 2026 with equally lengthy and succesful runways. Discussions are ongoing about modernising different airports in Greenland in a bid to make the nation extra accessible.

Why is Greenland eager to draw vacationers?

Concentrating on extra vacationers is seen as a key financial enabler for Greenland. The distant, sparsely populated island is eager to diversify away from its reliance on the fishing business, and sees tourism’s potential as an extra income supply.

Tourism is already starting to develop, with a document variety of international guests in 2023. Virtually 40,000 arrived by air, 9 per cent greater than in 2022, whereas over 76,000 arrived on cruise ships – virtually twice as many as pre-pandemic in 2019.

Statistics from Go to Greenland present that in 2023, international tourism contributed income to Greenland of just about DKK 1.9 billion (€250 million). Not solely that, however vacationer arrivals straight accounted for over 1,000 jobs.

Whereas the brand new airport and Greenland’s distinctive setting have the correct recipe for tourism success, organisations are cautious about overstimulating the market. A pledge for sustainable tourism, signed in 2023, aligns elevated tourism with direct advantages to native residents whereas sustaining vital cultural connections.

“Among the many tourism firms and organisations, there’s a sturdy want for a standard and sustainable path for tourism growth,” says Go to Greenland’s CEO, Anne Nivíka Grødem. “That’s why I’m so inspired that the tourism business itself is setting clear path with this pledge for sustainable tourism growth that advantages all of Greenland.”

In Nuuk, the municipality is collaborating with the tourism business on growing the variety of resort rooms by 50 per cent by the top of 2030, which is able to add 500 extra beds. Nevertheless, that received’t occur rapidly, and evaluation by Go to Greenland suggests each Nuuk and Ilulissat may face a scarcity of lodging within the quick time period.

What are the most effective issues to do in Greenland?

Greenland’s wow issue comes from its untouched pure environment and uncrowded areas. Like Iceland, its Arctic Circle location means there are huge alternatives for experiences which might be laborious to search out elsewhere on the planet. 

Greenland is advertising and marketing itself as an journey tourism hotspot, and it’s straightforward to see why. Icebergs the dimensions of skyscrapers and historical glaciers could be explored by boat or kayak. The Ilulissat Icefjord, a UNESCO World Heritage website, is one in every of Greenland’s most iconic points of interest, with large icebergs calving off the Sermeq Kujalleq glacier.

Greenland has maybe the most effective ‘darkish sky’ setting of anyplace, resulting from its minimal mild air pollution, huge, untouched landscapes, and clear skies. Its northerly location and lengthy, darkish winters make it probably the greatest locations on the planet to view the Aurora Borealis.

Winter enjoyable is year-round right here, with canine sledding a preferred pastime for guests and locals alike. Sisimiut and Kangerlussuaq supply lengthy, snow-covered trails splendid for sledding, whereas Tasiilaq within the east presents an genuine Innuit canine sled expertise. Snowboarding and snowboarding are well-liked too, with heli-skiing an choice for thrill seekers.

There are alternatives to identify a few of Greenland’s various wildlife all through the island, however the most well-liked excursions take guests out to sea to view the enormous whales of their pure setting. From Disko Bay and Nuuk, vacationers can take a ship tour to view humpback whales, fin whales and even minke whales within the Arctic waters.

Alongside this, there are quite a few cultural and historic experiences to be present in Nuuk and different cities throughout the island, in addition to infinite alternatives for climbing, wildlife watching, and easily enjoyable. 

The unspoilt riches of Greenland are starting to be found, and with simpler connections than ever, it’s certain to make its manner onto many travellers’ bucket lists in 2025.