A responsible tourism industry

We acknowledge that tourism has an impact on the society, people and nature we operate in. Big issues can only be addressed through working and collaborating together. Therefore, we strive for transparency in our operations.

We want to encourage sustainable development and growth without compromising the natural resources for future generations. We aim to create a sustainable and meaningful environment in our business, where we consciously work towards an even more sustainable tourism industry.

nesses, travelers, and tourism providers has been ongoing. We have developed sustainable policies, procurement policies, and a sustainable guide (toolbox) in connection with events, as well as some helpful tips for travelers to make sustainable decisions when visiting the Faroe Islands.

We have set ourselves the goal of achieving these three sustainability goals by 2030.

As part of the work to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals, new ideas and other important goals have been introduced that we have set ourselves to achieve in the coming years.

By 2030, 80% of the Faroese population will have a positive attitude towards tourism and business tourism. The goal is to reach 70% by 2025.

In 2022, we have achieved a positive attitude of

71% (Goal for 2030: 80%)

This is not an easy task that we can solve on our own, but with small sustainable solutions in our work, we get closer to this goal every year.

Campaigns and daily operations carried out by Visit Faroe Islands throughout the year must reflect good and sustainable solutions. In 2022, we set out to develop our sustainable long-term plan for tourism within a structured framework. This includes a new tourism plan for the Faroe Islands, running up to 2030, which will be integrated into the Faroese community and aim to achieve a well-organized and sustainable tourism industry.

In 2022, our work to provide sustainable guidance to busi-

Visit Faroe Islands is also in the process of obtaining a "Green Key" environmental certification.

In 2022, the work began on formulating a sustainable agenda. At Visit Faroe Islands, we acknowledge that any stakeholder interested in preserving the Faroe Islands is an individual in the matter, and therefore, we all have a role to play in preserving the main objectives outlined in the upcoming agenda.

The agenda aims to develop sustainable practices in the Faroese tourism industry and support the efforts to achieve the UN's sustainable development goals.

Visit Faroe Islands is well on track to achieve these goals. According to a survey conducted by Spyr.fo in 2022 on tourism in the Faroe Islands, the satisfaction among Faroese residents is at 71%. The situation is also progressing for accommodations, with 33% of our hotel rooms having an environmental certification. For other accommodations, the situation is also progressing, as both Greengate Incoming and 62n have implemented sustainable policies, and we expect to see more positive numbers for other accommodations in 2023.

By 2030, 80% of our hotel rooms will have an environmental certification. The goal is to reach 50% by 2025.

Environmental certification in 2022

33% (Goal for 2030: 80%)

By 2030, 90% of our tourism providers have a sustainable policy. The goal is to reach 70% by 2025.

The numbers will be available in 2023

..% (Goal by 2030: 90%))

We aim to work in accordance with these seven UN Sustainable Development Goals:

WE WISH TO:

• work towards excellent education and have an industry that offers lifelong education

• improve the skills of our industry workers, both young and old, so that they have up-to-date and relevant skills and education. We also want everyone to have the opportunity to participate in skills development, so that the difference between men, women, age, people with special needs, ethnic background, etc., is reduced.

• collaborate with the Tourism Association and educational institutions on awards, internships, and other initiatives that can promote interest in excellent education.

We will continuously provide courses on sustainable development.

WE WISH TO: create respect for clean water in the Faroe Islands. We want to promote a responsible use of water and work towards ensuring that tourism does not become a burden on water usage ensure that tourism plays a role in managing water usage, and that wastewater is treated and used in circular systems as far as possible. This includes minimizing the use of water for taps, showers and toilets. provide free refill stations for tourists to fill their own water bottles at designated locations.

We use tap water for all our activities and meetings.

WE WANT:

• to support the climate policy set by the Faroe Islands and the international community.

WE WISH TO:

• preserve wetlands and protect biodiversity.

• halt the degradation of nature and wilderness.

We want to do this by engaging in the project of the National Museum, supporting it, and promoting it as an opportunity for tourists to do something good for society. We also want to offer wetland areas as part of the Closed For Maintenance initiative.

WE WISH TO:

• ensure an annual economic growth in tourism, with a good increase in value and support for entrepreneurship. With this, tourism will expand its operations in the Faroe Islands and create more interesting jobs.

• ensure that tourism companies in the Faroe Islands have Faroese ownership.

• provide equal pay for equal work regardless of gender, ethnic origin, or specific needs, and have a significant proportion of the workforce aged 15-24, so that tourism becomes attractive to this age group.

• obtain an environmental certification and demand from partners and providers within a deadline that they also have it and/or a sustainable policy.

We prioritize buying local products. We also advise guests on experiences beyond the usual popular ones.

WE WISH:

• to strengthen the use of public transportation and sustainable traffic by making it easier to use public transportation services around the Faroe Islands.

• that everyone should have access to nature and that towns, villages and nature encompass everyone, including people with disabilities.

• that visitors should have access to bicycles and other sustainable transportation, such as access to charging stations for electric cars.

WE WISH:

• a sustainable and efficient use of our natural resources.

• to reduce food waste.

• to reduce the use of genetically modified organisms in our production.

• to separate waste according to guidelines, so that as little as possible is burned and as much as possible is recycled.

We have a procurement policy. We have a sustainable policy.