Vatnajökull National Park awards new contracts for ice cave tours despite safety concerns

The management of Vatnajökull National Park has taken the decision to award new contracts for ice cave tours and glacier hikes to 30 companies. However, one board member raised serious concerns regarding the issuance of these permits, arguing that adequate risk assessments for such activities had not been conducted.

The agreements are expected to begin this November and will remain valid until September 30, 2025. Preference will be given to those companies that have the most experience in the area when selecting which operators will receive permits.

A working group is to be established in the new year to develop a future framework for these agreements, with the intention of extending their duration to three years.

During the meeting, a representative from a conservation group suggested postponing the decision until the next board meeting scheduled for December 9, but this proposal was voted down by six votes to one. The representative expressed his disapproval, citing recent accidents within the park that raised concerns about visitor safety.

One such incident occurred in late August on Breiðamerkurjökull when a foreign tourist lost their life due to an ice collapse. There were initial fears that two people may have perished, but that turned out to be incorrect.

The representative highlighted the absence of any safety assessments regarding the permit approval process and noted a lack of information about previous incidents affecting visitor safety within the park. He pointed out that the area has poor communication options, active volcanoes, and challenging weather conditions, all of which add to the risks associated with the tours.