Farmer frustrated after tourists breach restricted pasture in Trøllanesi
On July 22, a farmer named Jóhannus Kallsgarð from Trøllanesi received troubling news when he contacted the police regarding a group of tourists entering his pasture.
Kallsgarð had closed off the area, as required by law, because he was taking his livestock to the mountains. According to Article 11 of the law on sustainable tourism, a farmer is permitted to restrict access to their land if they need to manage their animals. Failure to respect such closures can result in penalties, including fines or imprisonment.
However, around midday that same day, a tour group consisting of 14 foreign visitors entered the restricted area, creating a situation that left Kallsgarð feeling frustrated and helpless. With the new legislation surrounding sustainable tourism being unclear, he found himself at a loss for how to handle this violation of his rights as a landowner.