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Wealth of Wind and Visitors: Tourist Industry Attitudes towards Wind Energy Development in Iceland

Author

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  • Anna Dóra Sæþórsdóttir

    (Department of Geography & Tourism, Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Iceland, 102 Reykjavík, Iceland)

  • Margrét Wendt

    (Department of Geography & Tourism, Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Iceland, 102 Reykjavík, Iceland)

  • Edita Tverijonaite

    (Department of Geography & Tourism, Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Iceland, 102 Reykjavík, Iceland)

Abstract

The interest in harnessing wind energy keeps increasing globally. Iceland is considering building its first wind farms, but its landscape and nature are not only a resource for renewable energy production; they are also the main attraction for tourists. As wind turbines affect how the landscape is perceived and experienced, it is foreseeable that the construction of wind farms in Iceland will create land use conflicts between the energy sector and the tourism industry. This study sheds light on the impacts of wind farms on nature-based tourism as perceived by the tourism industry. Based on 47 semi-structured interviews with tourism service providers, it revealed that the impacts were perceived as mostly negative, since wind farms decrease the quality of the natural landscape. Furthermore, the study identified that the tourism industry considered the following as key factors for selecting suitable wind farm sites: the visibility of wind turbines, the number of tourists and tourist attractions in the area, the area’s degree of naturalness and the local need for energy. The research highlights the importance of analysing the various stakeholders’ opinions with the aim of mitigating land use conflicts and socioeconomic issues related to wind energy development.

Suggested Citation

  • Anna Dóra Sæþórsdóttir & Margrét Wendt & Edita Tverijonaite, 2021. "Wealth of Wind and Visitors: Tourist Industry Attitudes towards Wind Energy Development in Iceland," Land, MDPI, vol. 10(7), pages 1-19, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jlands:v:10:y:2021:i:7:p:693-:d:586091
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Edita Tverijonaite & Anna Dóra Sæþórsdóttir, 2024. "Hydro, Wind, and Geothermal: Navigating the Compatibility of Renewable Energy Infrastructure with Tourism," Tourism and Hospitality, MDPI, vol. 5(1), pages 1-16, January.
    2. Agnieszka Rochmińska, 2023. "Wind Energy Infrastructure and Socio-Spatial Conflicts," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(3), pages 1-19, January.
    3. Bidwell, David, 2023. "Tourists are people too: Nonresidents’ values, beliefs, and acceptance of a nearshore wind farm," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 173(C).
    4. Michaël Virgil Bishop & Rannveig Ólafsdóttir & Þorvarður Árnason, 2022. "Tourism, Recreation and Wilderness: Public Perceptions of Conservation and Access in the Central Highland of Iceland," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(2), pages 1-21, February.
    5. Ewa Chomać-Pierzecka & Hubert Gąsiński & Joanna Rogozińska-Mitrut & Dariusz Soboń & Sebastian Zupok, 2023. "Review of Selected Aspects of Wind Energy Market Development in Poland and Lithuania in the Face of Current Challenges," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(1), pages 1-17, January.
    6. Karolina Talarek & Anna Knitter-Piątkowska & Tomasz Garbowski, 2022. "Wind Parks in Poland—New Challenges and Perspectives," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(19), pages 1-25, September.
    7. Eglė Tumelienė & Jūratė Sužiedelytė Visockienė & Vida Maliene, 2022. "Evaluating the Eligibility of Abandoned Agricultural Land for the Development of Wind Energy in Lithuania," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(21), pages 1-14, November.

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