An explorative study of stakeholder involvement in tourism development on the Faroe Islands
Authors
Lisberg, Annika ; Á Líðarenda, Barbara
Term
4. term
Education
Publication year
2020
Abstract
Dette speciale undersøger, hvordan turismens interessenter inddrages i udviklingen af Farøerne som destination, med særligt fokus på samarbejdet mellem landmænd og myndigheder i beslutningsprocesser. Baggrunden er en markant vækst i naturturisme, hvor vandrere søger ud på privat ejede udmarker, hvilket skaber spændinger om adgang, betaling og hensyn til drift og natur. Metodisk bygger studiet på kvalitative, semistrukturerede interviews med centrale aktører (myndigheder, en landmand, et destinationsselskab og en turismevirksomhed) suppleret af dataresearch. Undersøgelsen viser, at landmænd de facto er blevet centrale turismeaktører, fordi turisterne søger deres udmarker; en landbrugslov fra 1937 præger aktuelt udviklingen ved at give landmændene betydelig indflydelse, hvilket blandt andet har medført hegn og brugerbetaling uden tilhørende service. Samtidig arbejder regeringen på ny lovgivning, der skal sikre gratis færdselsmuligheder for både turister og lokale. Der er uenighed om graden af inddragelse: myndigheder oplever, at landmænd inddrages, mens landmænd føler sig overset og er usikre på egne ønsker; samarbejdet beskrives som svagt eller ikke‑eksisterende. Konklusionen er, at et velfungerende, inkluderende interessentsamarbejde er afgørende for at finde fælles løsninger, da både myndigheder/policymakere og landmænd er nøgleaktører i den farøske turismeudvikling.
This thesis examines how tourism stakeholders are involved in developing the Faroe Islands as a destination, with a particular focus on collaboration between farmers and government in decision-making. The study is set against rapid growth in nature-based tourism, where most visitors hike on privately owned outfields, creating tensions around access, fees, and impacts on farming and nature. The methodology is qualitative, using semi-structured interviews with key actors (government officials, a farmer, a destination management organization, and a tourism company), supported by additional data research. Findings indicate that farmers have become de facto tourism stakeholders because visitors seek access to their outfields; a 1937 farming law currently shapes the trajectory by granting farmers substantial influence, leading to fencing and fee collection without corresponding services. In response, government officials are drafting new legislation to ensure free roaming rights for both tourists and residents. Perceptions of involvement diverge: policy-makers report involving farmers, while farmers feel overlooked and are unsure of their own preferred outcomes; overall collaboration is characterized as weak or absent. The thesis concludes that inclusive, well-structured stakeholder collaboration is essential to reach common ground, as both policy-makers and farmers are key actors in Faroese tourism development.
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