Tourism in Greenland
Encyclopedia
Tourism in Greenland
is largely undeveloped, with most tourist activities arranged on a local level. The country has spectacular scenery, and a few historic sites.
The main tourist activities on offer are ice cap treks, wildlife spotting (including whale watching
), iceberg
watching, and hiking
trips to the mainly Norse
ruins.
and business development
in Greenland
. The head office is in Nuuk
Greenland. There is a subsidiary office in Copenhagen
Denmark
.
GTBC was established in 1992. Its original goal was to develop a sustainable tourism industry and market Greenland as a tourism
destination. The role was subsequently expanded to include the development of industry and small business
es in Greenland. GTBC in Nuuk focuses on facilitation and the Copenhagen office focuses on marketing.
, zone two around Qaqortoq
, and with zone three in East Greenland with Tasiilaq
as the main hub.
The most popular tourist destination is Ilulissat
Ice Fjord, which has been declared a UNESCO
World Heritage Site.
Greenland
Greenland is an autonomous country within the Kingdom of Denmark, located between the Arctic and Atlantic Oceans, east of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. Though physiographically a part of the continent of North America, Greenland has been politically and culturally associated with Europe for...
is largely undeveloped, with most tourist activities arranged on a local level. The country has spectacular scenery, and a few historic sites.
The main tourist activities on offer are ice cap treks, wildlife spotting (including whale watching
Whale watching
Whale watching is the practice of observing whales and other cetaceans in their natural habitat. Whales are watched most commonly for recreation but the activity can also serve scientific or educational purposes. A 2009 study, prepared for IFAW, estimated that 13 million people went whale watching...
), iceberg
Iceberg
An iceberg is a large piece of ice from freshwater that has broken off from a snow-formed glacier or ice shelf and is floating in open water. It may subsequently become frozen into pack ice...
watching, and hiking
Hiking
Hiking is an outdoor activity which consists of walking in natural environments, often in mountainous or other scenic terrain. People often hike on hiking trails. It is such a popular activity that there are numerous hiking organizations worldwide. The health benefits of different types of hiking...
trips to the mainly Norse
Norse
Norse may refer to:In history:* Norsemen, the Scandinavian people before the Christianization of Scandinavia** Norse mythology** Norse paganism** Norse art** Norse activity in the British IslesIn language:...
ruins.
Greenland Tourism and Business Council
The Greenland Tourism and Business Council (GTBC) is the government agency responsible for tourismTourism
Tourism is travel for recreational, leisure or business purposes. The World Tourism Organization defines tourists as people "traveling to and staying in places outside their usual environment for not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business and other purposes".Tourism has become a...
and business development
Business development
A subset of the field of commerce, business development comprises a number of techniques and responsibilities which aim at:1. Researching new types of business/products/services with an emphasis on identifying gaps in the mitigation of needs of potential clients .2. Attracting new customers3...
in Greenland
Greenland
Greenland is an autonomous country within the Kingdom of Denmark, located between the Arctic and Atlantic Oceans, east of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. Though physiographically a part of the continent of North America, Greenland has been politically and culturally associated with Europe for...
. The head office is in Nuuk
Nuuk
Nuuk, is the capital of Greenland, the northernmost capital in North America and the largest city in Greenland. Located in the Nuup Kangerlua fjord, the city lies on the eastern shore of the Labrador Sea and on the west coast of Sermersooq. Nuuk is the largest cultural and economic center in...
Greenland. There is a subsidiary office in Copenhagen
Copenhagen
Copenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark, with an urban population of 1,199,224 and a metropolitan population of 1,930,260 . With the completion of the transnational Øresund Bridge in 2000, Copenhagen has become the centre of the increasingly integrating Øresund Region...
Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
.
GTBC was established in 1992. Its original goal was to develop a sustainable tourism industry and market Greenland as a tourism
Tourism
Tourism is travel for recreational, leisure or business purposes. The World Tourism Organization defines tourists as people "traveling to and staying in places outside their usual environment for not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business and other purposes".Tourism has become a...
destination. The role was subsequently expanded to include the development of industry and small business
Small business
A small business is a business that is privately owned and operated, with a small number of employees and relatively low volume of sales. Small businesses are normally privately owned corporations, partnerships, or sole proprietorships...
es in Greenland. GTBC in Nuuk focuses on facilitation and the Copenhagen office focuses on marketing.
Greenland Home Rule
In 2002 Greenland Home Rule established four focus zones for the development of the tourism industry in Greenland. Zone one is centered around KangerlussuaqKangerlussuaq
Kangerlussuaq is a settlement in western Greenland in the Qeqqata municipality, located at the head of a fjord of the same name. It is Greenland's main air transport hub, being the site of Greenland's largest commercial airport....
, zone two around Qaqortoq
Qaqortoq
Qaqortoq is a town in the Kujalleq municipality in southern Greenland. With a population of 3,230 as of 2011, it is the most populous town in southern Greenland, and the fourth-largest town in the country. The name is western Greenlandic and means "[the] white [one]".- History :The area around...
, and with zone three in East Greenland with Tasiilaq
Tasiilaq
Tasiilaq is a town in the Sermersooq municipality in southeastern Greenland. With 1,930 inhabitants as of 2010, it is the most populous community on the eastern coast, and the seventh-largest town in Greenland...
as the main hub.
The most popular tourist destination is Ilulissat
Ilulissat
Ilulissat is a town in the Qaasuitsup municipality in western Greenland, located approximately north of the Arctic Circle. With the population of 4,546 as of 2010, it is the third-largest settlement in Greenland, after Nuuk and Sisimiut....
Ice Fjord, which has been declared a UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
World Heritage Site.
South Greenland
- NarsarsuaqNarsarsuaqNarsarsuaq is a settlement in the Kujalleq municipality in southern Greenland. It had 158 inhabitants in 2010. There is a thriving tourism industry in and around Narsarsuaq, whose attractions include a great diversity of wildlife, gemstones, tours to glaciers, and an airfield museum...
Museum - displays on the Vikings, sheep farming, and the American presence in Southern Greenland - Iceview Plateau Hike - a 5-6 hour hike from Narsaruaq that leads to a high plateau with a lake
- Qaqortoq MuseumQaqortoq MuseumQaqortoq Museum is a museum located in one of the oldest buildings of the town of Qaqortoq, Greenland. It is located in the former blacksmith's shop dated to 1804, made from yellow stone--located right by the main fountain square, and exhibits old inuit boats, hunting equipment, national dresses...
- main museum of QaqortoqQaqortoqQaqortoq is a town in the Kujalleq municipality in southern Greenland. With a population of 3,230 as of 2011, it is the most populous town in southern Greenland, and the fourth-largest town in the country. The name is western Greenlandic and means "[the] white [one]".- History :The area around...