NS34 Session 24

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Title: Regulation of cruise tourism in relation to small coastal and island communities in the Arctic

Organisers: Antje Neumann and Helga Númadóttir

Affiliation: University of Akureyri and Stefansson Arctic Institute

Description

The session will address the regulation of potentially adverse effects of cruise tourism on small coastal and island communities in the Arctic and how the interests of these communities can be taken into account while balancing opportunities for economic development with environmental protection.
Small coastal areas and islands in the Arctic are, on the one hand, especially attractive to a rising cruise tourism industry since they offer not only spectular landscapes and unique biodiversity but also rich and distinct cultural traditions and heritage. On the other hand, they are especially vulnerable because of inhabiting highly fragile marine and terrestrial ecosystems and an often declining population that strongly depends on the natural integrity of these ecosystems for subsistence and surviving purposes. Due to these vulnerabilities, cruise tourism may, in addition to the adverse effects of climate change, pose additional threats such as air and water pollution, waste generation, physical disturbance and soil erosion, noise pollution and even increase the risk of oil spill accidents or the introduction of non-native species.
While tourism regulation in the Arctic is predominantly of domestic legal nature, generally made by the central governments, the specific characteristic of small coastal areas, islands and their communities are often not taken into consideration. Moreover, tourism regulations appears not seldom attributed to economic development primarily, thus, neglecting or limiting the concern for environmental protection, nature and cultural conservation, social and cultural aspects.
Against this background, the session will focus primarily on the challenges and opportunities of regulating cruise tourism at the level of small coastal and island communities, with particular attention paid to the social and economic development interests of these communities and the protection of the environment. Possible themes may include but are not limited to:

• Traffic regulations
• Rights of way
• Regulation and restrictions of tourism activities
• Protection against pollution, including waste mangement
• Establishment of infrastructure for tourism purposes
• Private property rights and rights of possession in relation to tourism activities
• Rights of Indigenous Peoples, customary rights and traditional rights of local people

We explictely invite multi- and interdisciplinary contributions from various disciplines and backgrounds, practioners, community and Indigenous representatives. Through the interactive format, the session will offer opportunities for research presentations, dialogue and continued deeper discussions.

Abstracts

Title: Local Perceptions on Sustainability and Governance of Cruise Tourism in Northern Iceland and Southern Greenland
Author: Élise Lépy, University of Oulu

Arctic cruise tourism has grown significantly over the past two decades. While this growth is accompanied by hopes for new income and economic diversification, there are also increasing local concerns about socio-economic and environmental risks. More recently, national and international regulations, as well as voluntary guidelines within the cruise industry, have been established across the Arctic. Yet, the effective implementation of governance initiatives for more sustainable cruise tourism remains challenging, due to, for instance, limited administrative capacities and (port) infrastructure, and the prevalent mindset and interests. The present paper is based on empirical data gathered during 2024-2026 field research in Qaqortoq, Greenland and Húsavík, Iceland – two coastal settlements of approx. 3000 inhabitants, receiving an increasing number of cruise ships. The research includes insights from a comprehensive survey of local residents and key stakeholders, as well as in-depth, semi-structured qualitative interviews. The paper sheds light on local perceptions of the growth of cruise tourism and the quality of its governance, capturing perceived opportunities, challenges, and regulatory shortcomings. This data is complemented by surveys with cruise passengers, to acquire knowledge on convergent or divergent perceptions and interests. Findings contribute to a better understanding of the gaps in cruise tourism governance, and hopefully, to the advancement of sustainable cruise tourism practices in the Arctic and beyond.

Title: Challenges and Opportunities for Communities in Northeast Iceland to Regulate Cruise Tourism in a Sustainable Manner
Authors: Antje Neumann, University of Akureyri, and Helga Guðrún Numadóttir

Tourism in Iceland has transformed from a niche market into a major economic sector, with bringing huge flows of passengers into the country and creating significant economic benefits. This rapid growth has raised concerns towards sustainability, particularly regarding social development and environmental protection. Especially smaller communities and islands, often qualified as primary destinations of cruise tourism, receive relatively little economic gain and are highly exposed to social and environmental impacts. This applies, for example, to the municipality of Akureyri, which includes the islands of Hrisey and Grimsey. The number of passengers at these destinations exceeds by far the number of inhabitants and puts increasing pressure on fragile ecosystems and limited infrastructure.

From a regulatory point of view, tourism in Iceland falls under the responsibility of the Ministry of Industries, and the Icelandic Tourist Board administrates tourism affairs as an independent authority under this ministry. It is largely centralized and focuses predominantly on licensing for travel agencies and tour operators, while little attention is put on local communities’ well-being and environmental protection.

Against this background, it is imperative to understand the role of small coastal and island communities in tourism governance, to identify the necessary prerequisites for sustainability, and to explore communities’ opportunities for regulating and managing cruise tourism locally. This also includes establishing locally defined priorities instead of externally imposed standards. The planned presentation offers initial considerations and insights into this topic, based on the community of Akureyri, including the communities of Hrisey and Grimsey.

Key words

Tourism legislation and policy, Iceland, small coastal communities, social development, environmental protection

Title: Regulation of Cruise Tourism in Svalbard
Author: Julia Olsen, Nord University

This study presents how Svalbard, an archipelago in the High Arctic, with a small population, has sought to regulate cruise tourism growth in order to balance economic opportunities with environmental protection and community well-being. Drawing on a community-based approach, the study analyses how local and national actors have developed regulatory and governance instruments and institutional arrangement to influence the volume, timing, and other practices for cruise arrivals in a context where itinerary decisions are largely controlled by global cruise operators. Empirical data derives from document analysis and interviews with key stakeholders, including local population, port actors, and tourism representatives. The findings show that Svalbard has implemented a combination of formal regulations, operational limits, and collaborative coordination mechanisms to manage cruise tourism impacts, including restrictions on vessel size, limits on passenger numbers ashore, and strengthened control of landing sites. In addition, new regulations that limit environmental impacts were introduced in 2025. These measures aim to reduce pressure on fragile ecosystems and local services while maintaining social acceptance of tourism among residents. The Svalbard case illustrates how small Arctic Island communities can develop place-based regulatory responses to cruise tourism, highlighting both the opportunities and constraints of governing highly mobile tourism flows in marginal and environmentally sensitive regions.