Scenic Route
(Tourism Industry Sector: Entertainment)
In order to make the country a more attractive tourist destination, Norway conceived the National Scenic Routes: a series of picturesque highways embellished with meticulously designed rest-stops and viewpoints. The island of Andoya has one such Scenic Route, a fifty-one kilometer road that connects the Southern village of Akneskrysset to the northernmost village of Andenes. It is a piece of infrastructure that has been rebranded as a tourist attraction, in which the beautiful scenery along the route, has been instrumentalized to make the journey as pleasant as the destination. One of the route’s architectural interventions has been constructed by the sea between the village of Bleik and Andenes. Hence, the local government of Andøya aims to position the island as a tourist destination, hoping that travelers will boost the area’s economy following the closure of the military air force base, and the diminishing fishing industry. While the scenic route connects various of the area’s promoted activities such as puffin safaris, beaches, and hiking trails, the question remains how many jobs the countless Instagram posts taken along the road really create: how profitable is fifty-one kilometer of social media activity really?.
(Tourism Industry Sector: Entertainment)
In order to make the country a more attractive tourist destination, Norway conceived the National Scenic Routes: a series of picturesque highways embellished with meticulously designed rest-stops and viewpoints. The island of Andoya has one such Scenic Route, a fifty-one kilometer road that connects the Southern village of Akneskrysset to the northernmost village of Andenes. It is a piece of infrastructure that has been rebranded as a tourist attraction, in which the beautiful scenery along the route, has been instrumentalized to make the journey as pleasant as the destination. One of the route’s architectural interventions has been constructed by the sea between the village of Bleik and Andenes. Hence, the local government of Andøya aims to position the island as a tourist destination, hoping that travelers will boost the area’s economy following the closure of the military air force base, and the diminishing fishing industry. While the scenic route connects various of the area’s promoted activities such as puffin safaris, beaches, and hiking trails, the question remains how many jobs the countless Instagram posts taken along the road really create: how profitable is fifty-one kilometer of social media activity really?.
Wildlife Conservation
(Tourism Industry Sector: Connected Services)
Norway kills hundreds of whales each year, mostly for the domestic market, where whale meat can still be found on the menu. In recent years however, the number of whale hunting vessels have diminished, as a result of a declining demand of whale products. Ships are now offering whale watching opportunities to tourists in places like Andenes instead, attracting over 50,000 visitors per year. In other words, whales – as well as other popular “safari-animals” including 80,000 pairs of breeding puffins – have become resources worth more alive than dead. Although positioned as the antithesis to hunting and various claims on the side of the provider of these trips that they are committed to preserving local species, the vessels used for whale watching trips still intrude and harm the animals’ ecosystems. Underwater noise pollution caused by the boats interfere with the cetaceans’ echolocation, while the PCBs in the paint on ships contaminate the waters. As it turns out ecotourism is a fine line to be thread, in which the balance between conservation and consumerism does not always tip in favor of the animal.
(Tourism Industry Sector: Connected Services)
Norway kills hundreds of whales each year, mostly for the domestic market, where whale meat can still be found on the menu. In recent years however, the number of whale hunting vessels have diminished, as a result of a declining demand of whale products. Ships are now offering whale watching opportunities to tourists in places like Andenes instead, attracting over 50,000 visitors per year. In other words, whales – as well as other popular “safari-animals” including 80,000 pairs of breeding puffins – have become resources worth more alive than dead. Although positioned as the antithesis to hunting and various claims on the side of the provider of these trips that they are committed to preserving local species, the vessels used for whale watching trips still intrude and harm the animals’ ecosystems. Underwater noise pollution caused by the boats interfere with the cetaceans’ echolocation, while the PCBs in the paint on ships contaminate the waters. As it turns out ecotourism is a fine line to be thread, in which the balance between conservation and consumerism does not always tip in favor of the animal.