The Relationship Between Tourism and the Marine Environment: A Case Study of Eyjafjördur, Iceland

• Main Author: Haley Elizabeth Aumiller 1991-
• Other Authors: Háskóli Íslands
• Format: Thesis
• Language: English
• Published: 2018
• Subjects: Auðlindafræði; Umhverfisfræði; Ferðaþjónusta; Akureyri; Iceland
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/1946/31866

Nature-based tourism is a fast-growing industry, and marine tourism, including cruise operations, whale watching, recreational diving and other sea-based excursions, is growing especially quickly. While this provides many economic benefits, the associated increase in human interference threatens irreparable damage to marine ecosystems, including habitat degradation, behavioral changes in marine animals, and changes in migration patterns. This thesis studies the complex relationships between tourism and the marine environment. A case-study approach in Eyjafjördur, Iceland, and analysis of policy frameworks, was used to study the touristic impacts on the marine environment. Cruise ship activity in Akureyri, as well as whale, seal watching, and recreational diving throughout the fjord, were examined. A modified DPSIR framework was implemented to structure analysis and results. Statistical data on tourism logistics such as number of ships and passengers for cruise operations and whale watching, climatic data, a conceptual literature review on challenges in marine tourism, as well as information gathered from personal communications with tourism operators show that marine tourism is quickly increasing in Eyjafjördur, and while some government regulations regarding wildlife can be applied to marine tourism activity, management is mostly left to the tourism companies themselves or association-based voluntary guidelines. This study has provided a snapshot of the status of marine tourism in Eyjafjördur, along with the broader touristic trends and challenges that face Iceland, and contains valuable insight for future development of management strategies for tourism growth. Náttúrutengd ferðaþjónusta er að aukast hratt, og á það sérstaklega við um sjávartengda ferðaþjónustu eins og hvalaskoðun, köfun, skemmtisiglingar og skoðunarferðir á sjó. Þó að ýmiss konar efnahagslegum ávinningur fylgir aukinni ferðaþjónustu, þá fylgir einnig aukin mannleg truflun sem getur valdið óbætanlegum skaða í vistkerfi sjávar, svo sem ...