Greenland has experienced a notable rise in tourism, sparked by the attention US President Donald Trump brought to the island, as well as the opening of a new international airport in Nuuk, the capital.
Ivic Knudsen-Ostermann, the head of Greenland Cruises, a company offering tours to Greenland’s icebergs, shared that a bank had advised him to expand his business in anticipation of an expected increase in tourists following Trump’s comments about the island.
It has been observed that the combination of Trump’s remarks and the new airport’s opening has already led to more tourists visiting Greenland, with expectations of even higher numbers. “Already, we are receiving far more bookings than before, especially thanks to a person with the last name Trump. He really put Greenland back on the map,” said Knudsen-Ostermann.
Although the bank has recommended expanding his fleet of boats and increasing staff to meet the rising demand, Knudsen-Ostermann remains cautious. “I want to see what the new airport will bring us, what 2025 will bring us. We don’t know the future, so I’m holding back a bit,” he explained.
Greenland is optimistic that the new airport will boost the growth of its tourism and mining sectors, helping diversify its economy, which is heavily reliant on fishing—currently accounting for 95% of the island’s exports.
Jens Loridsen, CEO of Greenland Airports, is also hopeful, anticipating “quite significant growth as early as this summer.”
According to the Greenland Statistics Office, international flight passenger numbers to the island rose by 14% in January 2025 compared to the same period the previous year. Additionally, hotel overnight stays have been on a steady upward trend over the last decade, with 355,000 recorded last year, compared to just 210,000 in 2014.
Visit Greenland reports that three-quarters of tour operators have noted an increase in bookings within three months of the opening of Nuuk’s new airport.
