Vatnajökulsþjóðgarður reviews ice cave tour agreements following safety concerns in Iceland

The director of Vatnajökulsþjóðgarður (Vatnajökull National Park) has indicated that the park does not issue individual permits for ice cave tours but rather enters into year-long agreements with tour operators for commercial activities within the park. Following recent incidents during ice cave tours, discussions are underway to potentially tighten the terms of these agreements.

Ingibjörg Halldórsdóttir stated that conversations are being held with the Icelandic Tourist Board to enhance safety measures for visitors in the area. Ice cave tours have been temporarily suspended, and Ingibjörg noted that tour operators have responded positively to this request.

Tourism Minister Lilja Alfreðsdóttir affirmed that the national park has the authority to halt ice cave tours under specific conditions, referencing the legal provisions allowing park officials to close the park or certain areas without notice in case of natural hazards. Ingibjörg emphasized the importance of examining the park’s role in this context.

She elaborated that it was only in 2020 that the national park began its involvement in permit issuance. Instead of granting permission for each tour, it remains the responsibility of the tour operators, who have a one-year contract for commercial operations, to assess whether conditions are safe.

The next agreements are set to take effect on October 1, providing an opportunity to strengthen the contractual terms. Ingibjörg highlighted the shared responsibility of ensuring visitor safety, which requires collaboration across multiple parties.