Greenland has just opened its first international airport in Nuuk, and another is set to open in Ilulissat in 2026. For the first time, direct flights to Copenhagen, Reykjavik, and soon New York and Iqaluit are possible. But multiple problems are predicted to happen, from a limited amount of hotel rooms for the guests to the exploitation of the local people. So, is Greenland ready to host all these tourists?
In this interview, I talked with Greenland’s Minister of Justice and former Minister of Housing and Infrastructure, Naaja Nathanielsen, about some problems her country will face due to more tourists visiting Greenland. A report from Visit Greenland predicts that there won’t be enough hotel rooms in Ilulissat after the new airport opens, and in the first year, there could already be a lack of up to 190 rooms, and by 2031, almost 1000 more rooms will be needed. Another issue is Greenland’s new tourism law that encourages tourists to visit small villages instead of just the bigger cities. This might sound like a good idea, but it will most likely overwhelm the small communities with only 5 to 40 people. Listen to the interview to hear how Greenland’s government plans to handle the growing number of tourists.