Minister says Slættaratindur access fee is unlawful without services

Kringvarp Føroya reports that charging tourists 200 kroner to walk up Slættaratindur, a mountain, is unlawful if no specific service is provided in return, according to Jacob Vestergaard, the minister responsible for tourism.

Vestergaard gave the assessment in response to a question from Liljan Weihe, a parliamentarian for Tjóðveldi. She asked whether the owners of the grazing land around Slættaratindur could charge the fee when there is no constructed path, guide, toilet or other specific service included.

He also said a fee could not be charged for services planned for the route in the future.

The landowners have said the money would be used, among other things, to build a path and provide toilets, water and electricity.

Weihe also asked whether Vestergaard intended to investigate the collection of the fee and stop it if it lacked legal authority. He said he would take no specific action because enforcement powers under Section 12 of the tourism law lie with the police.

At the same time, Vestergaard said he was preparing proposals to amend the tourism law and strengthen farmers’ rights. The changes would, among other things, give farmers the freedom to set fees and conditions for tourists who want to walk on their grazing land.