Sustainable Tourism in Svalbard: Balancing economic growth, sustainability, and environmental governance

Abstract

This commentary introduces a methodology and theoretical framework for studying how the tourism industry might balance the competing demands of economic growth and environmental governance. We focus on the “balancing act” Svalbard tourism industry must play among sometimes competing demands of climate change mitigation and emissions from tourism, and of strict Norwegian environmental management policy and demands for increased tourism. While these are specific to Svalbard, the balancing act of competing needs is the core challenge of the UN Sustainability Goals giving this research global and pan-Arctic relevance. Through collaboration between two tourism organisations, the Association of Arctic Expedition Cruise Operators (AECO) and Visit Svalbard and an interdisciplinary team of scientists, we will co-produce knowledge about how to innovate new opportunities while protecting the wilderness, the very backbone of tourism. This collaboration considers how policy, climate change, and local attitudes together may affect the tourism industry and helps to define and develop sustainable tourism operations and products. For instance, tourists may participate in environmental and community-related activities or “micro safaris” rather than a sole focus on charismatic megafauna. Policy discussions about tourism growth need to consider how local and national governments anticipate and navigate rapid social, political, and environmental changes.

Barentsburg and Longyearbyen in times of socioeconomic transition: Residents’ perceptions of community viability

“…The transition period in Barentsburg is expected to last for some time, with no immediate plans for mine closure (Arcticugol.ru, 2020). The reasons for this may be a longer tourism history in Longyearbyen (because of a political will) compared to that in Barentsburg, and a strong political will to cease coal mining (Hovelsrud et al, 2021). Our empirical data indicate that the residents of Barentsburg perceive the old system to be robust and resilient, and they do not think the system will be replaced by another one any time soon.…”

“…Prior to the travel limitations implemented due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the tourism industry continued to grow despite the strict environmental laws applicable to it. However, those regulations set certain limitations both for the area of operation and the types of activities (Hovelsrud et al, 2021) and were perceived by the other treaty parties (e.g. Russia) as an excuse to limit business opportunities (The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 2020b).…”

Concluding commentary: Inter-disciplinary vistas – research on Svalbard in a local to global continuum

“…It is at this point where the present collection of articles convincingly shows that the transition to tourism and research must not be seen as something that would at some time be "over." Rather, there is a strong underlying current that constructs Svalbard as something that might be called a socialmaterial configuration under the guiding aim of achieving sustainability (see the contribution by Hovelsrud, Veland, Kaltenborn, Olsen, & Dannevig, 2021;also, more generally, Pram Gad & Strandsbjerg, 2019), and that particularly constructs Svalbard not only as a political, legal, or economic configuration, but decidedly also as a cultural and aesthetic one (see la Cour, 2022;Polar Record Ødegaard, 2022). It is these configurations that need to be enacted and "negotiated," be it through practices and underlying imaginaries of what Svalbard "is" (or should be), be it by guides in the tourist industry (see the contribution by Trine Andersen), be it by the local government and administration, or be it through the waking up of a "ghost town" (see Kavan & Halašková, 2022).…”

Valuing time: Tourism transitions in Svalbard

“…Research outputs from the maturing sub-discipline of polar tourism have tended to focus on cruise tourism, management and climate change (Stewart et al, 2017), all of which are relevant to Svalbard. The majority of research about Svalbard's tourism has covered its management and development (Hovelsrud et al, 2020;Kaltenborn & Emmelin, 1993;Viken, 2006), its relationship with research, and the ongoing development of environmental regulation (Hagen et al, 2012;Hovelsrud et al, 2021;Nyseth & Viken, 2016;Viken, 2011;Saville, 2020). The impact of tourism, especially on cultural heritage has also been studied (Holmgaard et al, 2019;Roura, 2009Roura, , 2011.…”