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June 10, 2008
Tourism industry in Northeast Iceland
Frettabladid, the largest newspaper in Iceland, published an op-ed by Hordur Sigurbjarnarson recently. Sigurbjarnarson is CEO of Nordursigling, which is the largeste whale watching company in Husavik, NE-Iceland, where Alcoa is studying the feasability of building an aluminum smelter in Bakki. Sigurbjarnarson declares his whole-hearted support for the project, granted that set rules will be followed, and there will be professional design of structures and all construction. “A diverse economy is the foundation of a flourishing society. A thriving community attracts tourists, and a dynamic tourism industry makes a community colourful and interesting. If matters are handled properly, the construction of an aluminium smelter will further build-up of the tourism industry in the area,” he says.
In Hordur’s view, the tourism industry and construction of an aluminium smelter in Bakki, utilizing energy in the local area, will support each other. In that connection, he points out that the coming of the Krafla Power Station opened an area that is now one of the most popular destinations for tourists visiting the Myvatnssveit area. The same thing happened with the advent of the Nesjavellir Power Station in S-Iceland. He says that fears that an aluminium smelter in Bakki would negatively impact the tourism industry are groundless if things are handled right and care is taken to minimize the effect on the environment, as Icelandic law and regulations provide. “An aluminium smelter in Bakki and further build-up of the tourism industry will promote a better and more progressive community in Northeast Iceland.”
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