Publish: 14:04, 05 Nov, 2024

Greenland eyes 'last-chance tourism' as climate change alters its landscape

Online Desk
Greenland eyes 'last-chance tourism' as climate change alters its landscape
Photo - Collected

Greenland, with its awe-inspiring frozen landscapes and spectacular views, aims to draw more tourists. However, its remote setting and delicate environment, which contribute to its uniqueness, also present significant challenges.

"The effects of global heating are at their most pronounced in the Arctic," Michael Hall, a University of Canterbury professor and tourism expert, told AFP.

Global warming is accelerating "the loss of Arctic sea ice in summer, (as well as) the melting of permafrost, ice shelves and glaciers", he said, referring to elements that contribute to the island's uniqueness.

Across Greenland, locals are witnessing first-hand the effects of global warming.

On the southwestern coast, in Maniitsoq, the sea ice has not been solid enough to walk on since 2018. Residents have also seen it shrink from year to year, in addition to less abundant snowfalls.

Tourists are nonetheless awestruck by the vistas.

"It's terra incognita," said Amy Yankovic, a 55-year-old American tourist.

The Texan native travelled for almost 24 hours to get to Greenland, taking three connecting flights.

Tourism accounts for around eight percent of global greenhouse gas emissions, according to the United Nations, most of which is attributed to transportation.

There is "a kind of 'last-chance tourism', where visiting these endangered sites is about wanting to see them before they disappear", said Emmanuel Salim, a geography lecturer at the University of Toulouse in France.

He said similar destinations such as Churchill in Canada -- known as the "polar bear capital of the world" -- "have tried to position themselves as places for 'learning' about the environment".

But while such destinations can raise awareness about better environmental practices, their carbon footprints continue to rise, he lamented.

Developing tourism in a fragile environment is a tricky balancing act.

"Mitigation of the impacts of global heating on the Arctic is a global responsibility," said Hall, adding that "current mitigation attempts are greatly inadequate."

Greenlandic authorities insist they want a prudent development of the tourism sector, in order to create jobs.

"In recent years we've seen that young people have started to become tour operators," Maniitsoq mayor Gideon Lyberth told AFP.

"We're very, very happy, because young people have been leaving here for Nuuk, to live there, but now they're coming back," he said.

"Clearly such developments will usually be seen as a good idea, at least in the short term," Hall said.

Source:BSS

Bd-pratidin English/ Afia

More News
Australia to ban social media for children under 16
Australia to ban social media for children under 16
Why coffee could be good for your health
Why coffee could be good for your health
2024 likely to be hottest year on record: EU monitor
2024 likely to be hottest year on record: EU monitor
Is saree cancer real?
Is saree cancer real?
Omega-3 and Omega-6 intake may enhance cancer protection, study finds
Omega-3 and Omega-6 intake may enhance cancer protection, study finds
Tips that will preserve your teeth
Tips that will preserve your teeth
Snow finally falls on Mount Fuji after record delay
Snow finally falls on Mount Fuji after record delay
Study says digital tech boosts child development
Study says digital tech boosts child development
Children at risk of Vitamin D deficiency in winter
Children at risk of Vitamin D deficiency in winter
Bid goodbye to flaky skin this winter
Bid goodbye to flaky skin this winter
How to avoid winter weight gain?
How to avoid winter weight gain?
Poor sleep can age brain by 3 years
Poor sleep can age brain by 3 years
Latest News
Biden promises 'peaceful' transition in wake of Trump win
Biden promises 'peaceful' transition in wake of Trump win

2 hours ago | International

Dengue takes 7 more lives in 24hrs
Dengue takes 7 more lives in 24hrs

3 hours ago | National

Delegation of US Indo-Pacific Command paid a courtesy call on Army Chief
Delegation of US Indo-Pacific Command paid a courtesy call on Army Chief

3 hours ago | National

Rickshaw carrying martyr Nafiz to be preserved at Ganabhaban memorial museum
Rickshaw carrying martyr Nafiz to be preserved at Ganabhaban memorial museum

4 hours ago | National

Forest officials rescue 12 endangered capped langurs in Moheshkhali
Forest officials rescue 12 endangered capped langurs in Moheshkhali

4 hours ago | National

Bangladesh Bank Governor urges patience as it could take time to curb inflation
Bangladesh Bank Governor urges patience as it could take time to curb inflation

4 hours ago | Economy

There will be documentation of money wasted in the name of Mujib Year: CA’s Press Secretary
There will be documentation of money wasted in the name of Mujib Year: CA’s Press Secretary

5 hours ago | National

Arakan Army returns 20 Bangladeshi fishermen taken from Naf River
Arakan Army returns 20 Bangladeshi fishermen taken from Naf River

5 hours ago | National

Touhid sees no major shift in US policy towards Bangladesh under Trump
Touhid sees no major shift in US policy towards Bangladesh under Trump

5 hours ago | National

Local, foreign investors urged to invest in Bangladesh's marine, offshore industry
Local, foreign investors urged to invest in Bangladesh's marine, offshore industry

5 hours ago | City

South Korea hints at providing weapons to Ukraine
South Korea hints at providing weapons to Ukraine

5 hours ago | International

Bury political divisions for greater national interests: Jamaat Ameer Shafiqur Rahman
Bury political divisions for greater national interests: Jamaat Ameer Shafiqur Rahman

6 hours ago | National

British Council launches 3rd ‘Next Generation Bangladesh’ research series
British Council launches 3rd ‘Next Generation Bangladesh’ research series

6 hours ago | City

Inflation in Bangladesh went up in Oct
Inflation in Bangladesh went up in Oct

7 hours ago | Economy

Government prioritizes environmental protection to build a new Bangladesh: Environment Advisor
Government prioritizes environmental protection to build a new Bangladesh: Environment Advisor

7 hours ago | National

Price fall in large-cap drives stocks further down
Price fall in large-cap drives stocks further down

7 hours ago | Economy

Khelafat Majlis nominates 5 for New EC formation
Khelafat Majlis nominates 5 for New EC formation

7 hours ago | National

NBR nominates six officials for C&F Agent attachment
NBR nominates six officials for C&F Agent attachment

7 hours ago | Economy

Three arrested over killing of 2 auto-rickshaw drivers in Gendaria
Three arrested over killing of 2 auto-rickshaw drivers in Gendaria

7 hours ago | City

Govt decides to repeal Cyber Security Act
Govt decides to repeal Cyber Security Act

8 hours ago | National

Mumbai police summon Raipur man after Shah Rukh Khan receives death threat over phone
Mumbai police summon Raipur man after Shah Rukh Khan receives death threat over phone

8 hours ago | Showbiz

PSG's heartbreaking defeat sealed by last-minute goal
PSG's heartbreaking defeat sealed by last-minute goal

8 hours ago | Sports

Indonesia's Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki erupts for the second time in a week
Indonesia's Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki erupts for the second time in a week

8 hours ago | International

Allotment of land to Bannya’s music school Shurer Dhara cancelled
Allotment of land to Bannya’s music school Shurer Dhara cancelled

9 hours ago | Showbiz

Foreign Adviser welcomes new CIRDAP DG
Foreign Adviser welcomes new CIRDAP DG

9 hours ago | National

Economic census 2024 to begin on 10 Dec
Economic census 2024 to begin on 10 Dec

9 hours ago | Economy

BNP activists gather at Ziaur Rahman's grave to pay tribute
BNP activists gather at Ziaur Rahman's grave to pay tribute

9 hours ago | National

Australia to ban social media for children under 16
Australia to ban social media for children under 16

9 hours ago | Lifestyle

Israel buys 25 US-made F-15 aircraft for $5.2bn
Israel buys 25 US-made F-15 aircraft for $5.2bn

9 hours ago | International

Fire erupts in Badda residential building
Fire erupts in Badda residential building

9 hours ago | City

Most Read
China’s PLA launches latest J-35A stealth fighter jet
China’s PLA launches latest J-35A stealth fighter jet

16 hours ago | Tech

Netherlands, CGS launch project to empower women and youth in Bangladesh politics
Netherlands, CGS launch project to empower women and youth in Bangladesh politics

10 hours ago | National

Give election immediately for full reform of country: Golam Parwar
Give election immediately for full reform of country: Golam Parwar

13 hours ago | National

Bangladesh must be developed in such a way that the world is drawn closer to it: CA
Bangladesh must be developed in such a way that the world is drawn closer to it: CA

11 hours ago | National

Massive victory of four Bangladeshis
Massive victory of four Bangladeshis

14 hours ago | National

Kamal's old house in Bagbari, the birthplace of Ziaur Rahman
Kamal's old house in Bagbari, the birthplace of Ziaur Rahman

13 hours ago | Special

8,000 crore in the syndicate's pocket
8,000 crore in the syndicate's pocket

14 hours ago | Special

Trump and allies prepare for power shift following landslide victory over Harris
Trump and allies prepare for power shift following landslide victory over Harris

13 hours ago | International

Israel buys 25 US-made F-15 aircraft for $5.2bn
Israel buys 25 US-made F-15 aircraft for $5.2bn

9 hours ago | International

Govt decides to repeal Cyber Security Act
Govt decides to repeal Cyber Security Act

8 hours ago | National

World leaders praise Trump
World leaders praise Trump

15 hours ago | International

Global icons express their disappointment over Trump's victory
Global icons express their disappointment over Trump's victory

10 hours ago | Showbiz

Mushfiqur Rahim uncertain in remaining ODIs
Mushfiqur Rahim uncertain in remaining ODIs

12 hours ago | Sports

Former IGP Mamun testifies in tribunal case
Former IGP Mamun testifies in tribunal case

10 hours ago | National

Which direction will Trump choose on Ukraine, the Middle East, and China?
Which direction will Trump choose on Ukraine, the Middle East, and China?

9 hours ago | International

Bangladesh suffer 92-run defeat in first ODI against Afghans
Bangladesh suffer 92-run defeat in first ODI against Afghans

17 hours ago | Sports

Ponting foresees India's "Collapse" in Australia
Ponting foresees India's "Collapse" in Australia

12 hours ago | Sports

Trump’s victory unlikely to alter US Fed rate cut plans
Trump’s victory unlikely to alter US Fed rate cut plans

14 hours ago | International

China's consistent US policy as Asian nations react to Trump’s win
China's consistent US policy as Asian nations react to Trump’s win

16 hours ago | International

Dhaka’s air quality remains the same ‘unhealthy’
Dhaka’s air quality remains the same ‘unhealthy’

15 hours ago | City

CID investigating Anisul’s ‘girlfriend’ Tawfiqa
CID investigating Anisul’s ‘girlfriend’ Tawfiqa

17 hours ago | National

All set to take Khaleda Zia abroad for treatment
All set to take Khaleda Zia abroad for treatment

15 hours ago | National

Why did Vidya consider herself ‘Unlucky’?
Why did Vidya consider herself ‘Unlucky’?

11 hours ago | Showbiz

WhatsApp launches new feature
WhatsApp launches new feature

14 hours ago | Tech

PSG's heartbreaking defeat sealed by last-minute goal
PSG's heartbreaking defeat sealed by last-minute goal

8 hours ago | Sports

BNP proposes 5 names for new EC
BNP proposes 5 names for new EC

15 hours ago | National

Biden to address nation after Trump's mighty comeback
Biden to address nation after Trump's mighty comeback

10 hours ago | International

Blocked accounts on X can now see your public posts
Blocked accounts on X can now see your public posts

14 hours ago | Tech

King, Carty centuries seal West Indies series win
King, Carty centuries seal West Indies series win

13 hours ago | Sports

Shuvosangho organizes tree plantation event in Betagi
Shuvosangho organizes tree plantation event in Betagi

12 hours ago | Shuvosangho