Arinbjörn Jóhannsson built a lasting tourism business in Miðfjörður

Arinbjörn Jóhannsson, a tourism operator at Brekkulækur in Miðfjörður, died at the West Iceland Health Institution in Hvammstangi on October 29, aged 76, Morgunblaðið reported.

Born on March 5, 1950, Arinbjörn grew up at Brekkulækur. His parents were Jóhann Frímann Sigvaldason, a teacher and farmer there, and homemaker Sigurlaug Friðriksdóttir.

After graduating from Akureyri Junior College, he studied in Germany, first in Freiburg and then in Cologne, where he focused on sociology as well as theatre, television and film studies.

He returned to Iceland in 1978 and began offering German-speaking visitors horseback tours on Arnarvatnsheiði, with overnight stays in roundup huts and trout caught for meals. The business was initially based at the deserted farm Aðalbóli in Miðfjörður. In 1979, he founded the travel agency Ferðir/Erlebnistouren. With his former partner, Gudrun M.H. Kloes, he developed his birthplace, Brekkulækur, into a welcoming guesthouse.

From Brekkulækur, he ran a busy tourism business for nearly half a century, offering horseback tours across North and West Iceland, hikes across Arnarvatnsheiði, cycling trips and nature tours in West Iceland and the central highlands, as well as tours around the country. In cooperation with the Iceland Touring Association, he also organised history tours in the region.

Arinbjörn placed strong emphasis on making use of the local surroundings in Húnaþing vestra and was a pioneer in tourism in his home community. He was one of the founders of Farmers’ Tourism.

His wife, Claudia Hofmann, was his closest colleague for the past 25 years and managed the guesthouse at Brekkulækur. He is survived by three children and three grandchildren.