In the Arctic, this environment is exceptional but very fragile.
With its magnificent fjords and glaciers, it's hard not to be fascinated by Svalbard and its wild expanses.
The Norwegian archipelago, located just 1,300 kilometers from the North Pole, is one of the northernmost inhabited lands in the world, with some 3,000 inhabitants each year.
However, the population tends to increase significantly with a significant number of annual visitors (up to 140,000 in one year, before Covid), all fascinated by the breathtaking landscapes, polar bears and midnight suns.
Problem: Svalbard is hot.
The effects of global warming are even more visible there than elsewhere, with temperatures having increased by more than 5°C in certain areas over the last twenty years.
Glaciers are melting and evaporating at high speed, while avalanches are increasing.
Its main locality, Longyearbyen, has also received an evocative nickname: “the city that heats up the fastest on Earth”.
The changes are so rapid that scientists are worried about the local fauna and flora, which are doomed to disappear because they do not have time to adapt.
A worrying situation which forced the Norwegian government to take some drastic measures concerning the regulation of tourism in the territory.
Strict controls on visitor numbers and tourism activities
The objective:
“to protect one of the largest wild areas in Europe”
.
The new rules, which will come into force on January 1, 2025, will impose stricter controls on the number of visitors and their activities.
Ships will not be able to accommodate more than 200 passengers on board if they sail in protected areas (these cover around 65% of the archipelago and almost 90% of territorial waters).
In these same areas, the use of drones will also be prohibited to avoid disturbing wildlife, as will landings with groups of tourists (with the exception of 43 specific sites).
From March 1, the use of snowmobiles and other tracked vehicles will also be prohibited, with exceptions made for access to cabins.
Vessel traffic will also be regulated during the bird breeding season (April to August).
The latter must maintain a speed below 5 knots if they are less than 500 meters from the bird cliffs.
Traffic will also be limited near sites with walruses.
So many rules which reflect Svalbard's desire to play the card of more sustainable tourism.
For travel agencies and cruise companies, the challenge promises to be significant in complying with these new measures.