Overtourism is one of the biggest challenges faced by the travel industry. Quantifying it helps diagnose and fight the issue. Our new method of measuring local sentiment toward tourists can build upon and complement existing overtourism metrics.
Tourism grew to one-third of Iceland's economy in 2015, boosting the country's dependency on the sector. But things are likely changing, and it's unclear what comes next.
This looks like a marriage of convenience for the carriers. Both are struggling, as is the wider Icelandic tourism industry. We'll have to wait and see whether one is better than two.
Iceland should be a good air market right now. But increased competitive capacity is putting major pressure on Icelandair. The carrier's new CEO is going to have to find a way to get the airline back on track.
Iceland doesn't believe it's overrun with tourists but it's also been proactive in managing tourism growth. That's in sharp contrast to many other destinations only focused on higher numbers with no long-term game plans.
In some parts of Iceland, odds are you're more likely to meet a tourist than you are a local. The country doesn't want to lose its cool, progressive, and beautiful Nordic edge that's fueling demand. That's why it's successfully worked to promote its offseason and use humor and relatable language in its marketing campaigns.
While some European destinations suffered last year from travelers' fear of terrorism, Iceland and other countries in Northern and Eastern Europe benefited from the short-term, decreased interest in Western Europe — and more favorable exchange rates.