Absent from the Winter British Concert Series
In 2021, the number of British tourists participating in whale watching tours in Iceland saw a significant decrease of around 40% compared to previous years. While a comprehensive explanation for this decline was not directly addressed in the search results, the likely reasons for this drop can be inferred from broader knowledge and context.
The COVID-19 pandemic had a profound impact on international tourism worldwide, including travel from the UK to Iceland. Travel restrictions, quarantine requirements, and safety concerns significantly reduced tourism during this time, making it the primary explanation for the sharp drop in British whale-watching tourists in Iceland.
Other factors that may have contributed to the decline include economic uncertainty caused by the pandemic, which likely affected discretionary travel spending, particularly for specialty tours like whale watching. Some tourists may have chosen alternative destinations or postponed travel altogether due to health and safety concerns.
Iceland's controversial stance on commercial whaling could also influence some tourists' decisions, although this factor is generally a minor one compared to pandemic impacts.
Recent statements from tour operators in Iceland provide some insight into the current situation. Freyr Antonsson, owner of Arctic Seatours in Dalvík, reports a solid turnout for this summer's whale watching tours, but not significant growth for his company this year. Rannveig Grétarsdóttir, owner of Elding whale watching company in Reykjavík, expects visitor numbers for whale watching tours this year to be similar to last year.
Despite the decline in British tourists, Grétarsdóttir notes a particularly noticeable drop in British tourists this spring, and mentions that what was really missing were the British tourists. According to data from Business Iceland (Íslandsstofa), arrivals from the UK decreased by around 40% this spring.
In addition to the pandemic, the weather has played a role in the success of the whale watching tours. Both Antonsson and Grétarsdóttir have commented on the good weather recently, with Antonsson mentioning that it has contributed to the successful whale watching tours. Arctic Seatours has witnessed some truly spectacular sights during their whale watching tours this season, with an increase in Minke Whales and porpoises recently. Elding has also had unusually successful sightings of whales, particularly sperm whales and orcas.
While the number of British tourists for whale watching tours in Iceland has decreased, the operators remain optimistic for the future, with hopes that tourism will rebound as the pandemic subsides.
The weather conditions have positively impacted the success of this year's whale-watching tours, contributing to spectacular sights of Minke Whales and porpoises for Arctic Seatours, and unusual sightings of sperm whales and orcas for Elding. The decline in British tourists, particularly in the spring, might also be linked to the lifestyle changes and travel restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic, as economic uncertainties and health concerns could have affected discretionary travel spending and the choice of destination for some travelers.
