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.