Flights and Falls: An Exploration of the Positive and Negative Effects that new Prospective North American Tourism can have on Greenlandic Society

Abstract

Abstract The aim of this thesis is to examine how the opening of new international airports in Greenland in the coming years might affect Greenland’s society and tourism development in both potentially positive and negative manners and ultimately suggest possible strategies that can potentially be employed to manage these in such a way that is benefits Greenland as much as possible. This has been sought to be achieved through the use of the theories of Tourism Typologies, Tourism Development Lifecycle, Authenticity in Tourism and the Tourist Gaze. In order to focus the scope of the thesis, prospective tourists coming from America and Canada have been chosen as the main analytical focus of the thesis due to their geographical proximity to Greenland as well as because uncovered data has suggested they are one group of tourists that are likely going to arrive in larger number than tourist groups from many other countries. This thesis employed a critical realist, mixed methods approach where quantitative surveys made by VisitGreenland and tourism partners were used in conjunction with more qualitative data in the form of quotes from locals presiding in Greenland as well as other stakeholders like tourism operators and VisitGreenland. By doing this, it was the aim to create new knowledge that was both grounded in contemporary economic data while also not neglecting social contexts about how Greenland’s tourism is concurrently conducted. The analysis of the paper was divided up into different sections that all built on top of each other in complexity and ultimately took a particular focus in how tourists from America and Canada might affect Greenland’s natural and physical environment as well as the cultural practices of local inhabitants. Ultimately, it was discovered that a majority of new prospective tourists were likely to be mass tourists whose priorities and expectations can potentially be much more difficult for Greenland to manage than the tourists Greenland has received in the past. While it might be admirable for Greenland to try and divert these tourists out into smaller settlements, this thesis instead suggests that these tourists will likely flock to popular destinations like the Ilulissat Icefjord in great numbers and that more drastic measures like temporarily shutting such destinations down and investing in creating new tourism attractions in accessible spots might be measures needed to make sure Greenland doesn’t suffer from too many negative effects that Americans and Canadians can bring them when they travel to Greenland.

Colophon: This page is part of the AAU Student Projects portal, which is run by Aalborg University. Here, you can find and download publicly available bachelor's theses and master's projects from across the university dating from 2008 onwards. Student projects from before 2008 are available in printed form at Aalborg University Library.

If you have any questions about AAU Student Projects or the research registration, dissemination and analysis at Aalborg University, please feel free to contact the VBN team. You can also find more information in the AAU Student Projects FAQs.

A master thesis from Aalborg University

Flights and Falls: An Exploration of the Positive and Negative Effects that new Prospective North American Tourism can have on Greenlandic Society