Former tourism officer warns against fees at only three sites

A former tourism officer for the Uppsveitir area of Árnessýsla has warned that a proposed fee at only three tourist destinations would be discriminatory and harm local businesses. In a submission to the bill, reported by mbl.is, Ásborg Arnþórsdóttir said a fee should instead apply nationwide.

The bill from the minister responsible for industry proposes a nature and infrastructure fee at Geysir, Gullfoss and Þingvellir National Park, the country’s three most visited tourist destinations. The deadline for submitting comments on the proposal is Wednesday.

Ásborg urged decision-makers to consider conditions, developments and experience in the affected areas before proceeding. She said introducing charges at only three locations would be a serious intervention and a case of gross discrimination. In her view, the best options are an arrival fee for visitors to Iceland, a nationwide nature pass, or both.

Parking fees are already charged at Þingvellir. Ásborg said they have made it possible to carry out projects and improvements that had previously been delayed because of a lack of funds. She noted that Þingvellir was Iceland’s first national park and the country’s first entry on the World Heritage List, bringing obligations to maintain its standing.

Ownership and management at Gullfoss and Geysir have been complicated in the past, she said, but agreements between landowners and the state have improved the situation. Landowners have taken on significant responsibility, know the locations best and care for them, she added. They have built restroom facilities and car parks, while prioritising quality and social responsibility.

Ásborg said development along the Golden Circle has changed the experience for visitors. In the past, tourists were drawn to Gullfoss, Geysir and Þingvellir but moved through quickly and often left little behind. That has changed with more ambitious development, she said.

She called for a thorough review of the draft bill. Any fee system should have clear arrangements for implementation and oversight, she said, noting that it has already proved difficult to monitor businesses that do not comply with industry laws and regulations. The proposal would not address paid car parks around the country that are privately owned, she added, but would remove one parking fee that has produced visible results.