Reduction could be related to tension in international affairs

Arnar Már Ólafsson Tourism Manager says Gul light in front of us. The Icelandic Tourist Board's artificial intelligence forecast, which is a rolling forecast that is updated monthly, assumes a reduction in tourists.

The number of tourists has decreased in both January and February compared to previous forecasts and it has a rolling impact. Arnar Már, however, is optimistic about the injection of marketing.

« What causes the reduction we do not know. Therefore, there could be something related to the tension in international affairs. It is very difficult to say about it, ”says Arnar Már in a conversation with mbl.is.

Jóhannes Þór Skúlason, Managing Director of the Tourism Association, expresses his concerns about tourists coming here from the United States, in an interview with RÚV.

US key market

The impact of the Customs War has begun to be felt widely and says John the tourism industry in this country is not excluded. The decline in the number of tourists from the United States by, for example, 5% could mean that up to 8 billion is lost in foreign exchange income.

Gylfi Magnússon, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Central Bank of Iceland, Professor of Economics at the University of Iceland and former Minister of Economic Affairs, said in a conversation with mbl.is in the days that the influence could be felt on Icelandic tourism if the United States is very pessimistic about the state of affairs and perhaps less.

Many airlines are many who have begun to summarize income forecasts, as people are likely to travel less during the year than expected.

Americans are very important, according to Arnar Más and the United States is a key market with well -paying tourists.

The progress needs to be closely monitored. The tourism industry is a sensitive industry for various external influences and political instability and potential cost increases and exchange rate fluctuations can be very large impact on the flow of tourists.

Talks with ministries have taken place

Looking at the reduction of tourists from the United States, does not simply have to apply to other markets, such as Asia, for example?

« This is one of those external issues that we have no control over, but what we could possibly do is to apply with more power in the important market.

There has been a lot of debate in recent quarters that we need to give more in consumer marketing, as we are costing much less than our competing countries. « 

Arnar says that conversation active. Both tourism organizations and individuals in the business have spoken of considerable power and both formal and informal discussions took place with the Ministry of Tourism.

« The further we wait with it the more weight in the steering wheel. »

Are you optimistic that you get an injection?

« Yes, I'm optimistic about that. There are great interests at stake. «