Greenland is seeing a surge in tourism following controversial statements by former U.S. President Donald Trump, as well as the opening of a new international airport in the capital, Nuuk.
According to Reuters, Ivic Knudsen-Ostermann, head of Greenland Cruises, a company specializing in iceberg tours, said that a bank advised him to expand his business in anticipation of an influx of tourists. He noted that Trump’s remarks have once again drawn global attention to the island.
Greenland hopes that the construction of new airports will boost tourism and the mining industry, helping to reduce the economy’s reliance on fishing, which currently accounts for 95% of the country’s exports. Jens Loridsen, CEO of Greenland Airports, expects a significant increase in tourist numbers as early as this summer.
According to Greenland’s Statistics Office, the number of passengers on international flights to Greenland rose by 14% in January 2025 compared to the same period the previous year. The number of overnight stays in hotels has been steadily increasing over the past decade, reaching 355,000 in 2024, up from 210,000 in 2014.
