Tourism and Energy Projects

The ITRC has been involved in several projects examining the impacts of power plants and associated infrastructures on nature based tourism. This has included both studies of the impacts of new energy projects as part of an Environmental Impact Assessment and studies exploring how tourists experience nature in areas where power plants (hydro or geothermal) already exists.

Examples of recent research projects include:

• The impacts of the geothermal plant at Krafla on tourism experiences. On-site survey conducted in the summer of 2017. See report here (only in Icelandic).
• The impact of the geothermal plant at Hengill on tourism experiences. On-site survey conducted in the summer of 2017. See report here (only in Icelandic).
• Research on tourism at the geothermal site of Þeistareykir. On-site survey among tourists and interviews with tourism stakeholders in the summer of 2017. See report here (only in Icelandic)
• Impact of proposed power plant in Svartá in Bárðadalur on tourism. Part of Environmental Impact Assessment. See report here (only in Icelandic).