Adventure Tourism Legislation In Iceland

• Main Author: Dafoe, Storm
• Format: Text
• Language: unknown
• Published: Digital Commons @ TRU Library 2018
• Subjects: Iceland
• Online Access: https://digitalcommons.library.tru.ca/urc/2018/sessionb/9

Adventure sport and adventure tourism are inherently dangerous. They offer an integral element of risk that attracts tourism clientele but also challenges companies and operators to determine how to properly mitigate said risk. This study aims to explore the way in which other countries and regions have implemented legal framework regulating commercial adventure tourism and the events that led to the need for those regulations. Through interviews with adventure tourism experts and participants in Iceland, it became clear that there exists a precipitous situation within the industry. Currently, operators have no legal obligation to meet set minimum standards for their respective service or activities, they are not required to carry and maintain any specific certifications, and they are not subject to any form of safety auditing. To date, few accidents have been recorded nor have any accidents been devastating enough to capture the attention of a worldwide audience or Icelandic lawmakers. This creates a false sense of security. Implementation of legislation that sets out framework and guidelines for commercial endeavours within the adventure tourism sector, much like those in other regions of the world, would help to mitigate the risks of adventure and safeguard the industry.