Icelandic rangers oppose proposed nature pass

Iceland’s rangers have criticised a proposed nature pass, saying the bill is poorly prepared and lacks detail on how it would work, mbl.is reported. The pass would require foreign visitors to pay an access fee at Þingvellir, Geysir and Gullfoss.

“We are surprised by how poorly prepared the bill on the nature pass appears to be, and how little work seems to have gone into it,” said Magnús Hallur Jónsson, chair of the Icelandic Rangers Association.

Jónsson said the bill left many questions about implementation unanswered. Rangers should not be responsible for checking visitors’ identification and passes or issuing fines, he said. Under the proposal, the Icelandic Tourist Board would collect the fees, rather than Þingvellir National Park or the Environment Agency. Jónsson noted that rangers do not work for the Tourist Board.