Longing for the British Ambiance in Winter's Chill
Here's a fresh take on the article:
Good day! Let's dive into the world of whale watching in Iceland, shall we? Rannveig Grétarsdóttir, the boss lady of Elding, a whale-watching firm located in the heart of Reykjavik, shares her thoughts on this year's visitor numbers. She predicts that tour participation will likely resemble last year's numbers, although there was a slight dip seen back then.
Curiously, Grétarsdóttir has observed a striking decline in British tourists this spring. According to stats from Business Iceland (Íslandsstofa), UK arrivals dwindled by roughly 40%.
"The numbers aren't exactly skyrocketing, to put it mildly," Grétarsdóttir admits. "We went through a bit of a slump over winter, especially compared to the last few years. The winter season started off sluggish, and we noticed a drastic reduction in bookings compared to previous winters. The Brits were noticeably absent," she confides.
On the brighter side, she reports that the weather's been splendid as of late, and they've been witnessing top-notch whale sightings!"
Now, let's swing by Dalvik and catch up with Freyr Antonsson, the man behind Arctic Seatours. Antonsson reports a stable turnout this summer, with June holding strong and steady, though it hasn't been accompanied by any booking frenzies.
"The whale watching has been nothing short of breathtaking," Antonsson raves. "In the early spring, we predominantly spotted sperm whales and orcas, but lately we've been stumbling upon more minke whales and porpoises!"
While specific reasons behind the decline in British tourists in 2021 remain elusive, general knowledge suggests factors such as travel restrictions and the COVID-19 pandemic, changes in travel preferences, economic factors, or specific company policies could have played a role. For a more precise explanation, official tourism reports from Iceland in 2021 or industry analyses are advisable.
The recent decline in British tourists in Iceland might be linked to travel restrictions and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, as well as changes in lifestyle and travel preferences, economic factors, or specific company policies. Meanwhile, the political and general news landscape remains unaffected, with the whale watching season in Iceland offering a delightful experience this year, showcasing diverse species such as sperm whales, orcas, minke whales, and porpoises.
