Travellers and Nature

Natural and cultural heritage sites are among the main tourist attractions in Iceland and by far the most common incentive for foreign travellers to visit the island. Icelanders are also increasingly enjoying outdoor leisure in the nature.

As a result, the most popular nature sites are under pressure, especially as many Icelandic nature and cultural heritage destinations are quite sensitive. Thus, various infrastructure is needed to protect the qualities of the sites and to ensure safety and the security as well as the experience of the travellers visiting them. Examples of such infrastructure are hiking trails, security fences, service centres and signs, as well as organised supervision and rangers.

The national strategic plan for the development of infrastructure to protect natural and cultural heritage sites is intended to provide an overview of the need for infrastructure at popular destinations in Icelandic nature managed by the state. Furthermore, it prioritizes the sites that need the most attention in this regard and lays out a long-term plan for efforts to develop, operate and maintain infrastructure aimed at natural protection and protection of cultural heritage sites in Iceland under the auspices of the government. The national strategic plan is under the auspices of the Ministry for the Environment and Natural Resources. 

The Tourist Site Protection Fund promotes the development, maintenance and protection of tourist attractions all around Iceland which are owned or supervised by municipalities or private parties. The fund provides capital aimed at protecting nature, improving tourist safety and supporting the development of new attractions to help spread tourist flows. The Icelandic Tourist Board, under the Ministry of Industries and Innovation, oversees the management of the fund.