Рейкьявик. Travel digest

Minister of Industries, Hanna Katrín Friðriksson, has awarded grants to 18 projects from The Tourist Site Protection Fund for the year 2026. The total amount of grants amounts to almost 490 million ISK, which will be distributed to projects across the country.

Special emphasis was placed on safety at tourist attractions during this allocation, and the fund's quality assessment took that

The Icelandic Tourist Board has withdrawn the travel‑agency licence of Hispana Tours ehf. (licence No 2024‑001, registration No 411223‑0350), effective 10 April 2026, following the company's bankruptcy declared on 19 March 2026.

Consequently, the agency no longer satisfies the conditions for a licence and its membership in the Travel Insurance Fund has been terminated. The company is

Sky Lagoon, which has been certified by the Vakinn system since February 2024, has now attained the Gold label in the environmental category. The company has consistently prioritized sustainability, environmental protection, and a strong connection to Icelandic nature.

Long‑term sustainability commitment
“Our foundations are rooted in Icelandic nature, and that obliges us

At the European Travel Commission’s 110th General Meeting held in Iceland, the 35 national tourism organisations of Europe signed the Reykjavík Declaration. The document outlines a people‑centric, purpose‑driven approach to tourism that aims to reinforce local communities, cultural heritage and natural environments.

The declaration is built around six guiding principles:

About 70 senior representatives from the European tourism sector spent several days in Iceland, attending the board and annual general meetings of the European Travel Commission (ETC). The agenda concluded with a full‑day international conference at the Harpa Concert Hall, titled “Tourism and Communities: Building Bridges Amid Unbalanced Growth.” The Icelandic Tourist Board co‑organized the

Reykjavík and the Capital Region have secured a place in the top‑10 most sustainable destinations worldwide, according to the Global Destination Sustainability Index (GDS Index). The ranking covered 81 destinations, and Reykjavík improved its position by seven places compared with the previous year.

The Capital Region Marketing Office

Reykjavík / Nuuk, 4 June 2025 – Following the arrival of the first MAX 737 from Keflavik to Nuuk, Icelandair and Visit Greenland have announced the continuation of their long‑standing cooperation.

The newly signed agreement, which will remain in force until the end of 2027, reaffirms the joint commitment to improve access to Kalaallit Nunaat and to support sustainable tourism development

Alaska Airlines is expanding its map with two new, long-haul flights starting in spring 2026.

The first is new year-round service to London Heathrow (LHR) from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA). Alaska will fly it on its 787-9, which features its Business Class with 34 enclosed suites. The airline will also debut a new livery on the 787-9s starting in January.

The airline

Southwest Airlines is apparently readying to launch its first-ever flights to Europe. The news was first reported by Enilria, with several other outlets following up this week.

The rumor is that Southwest, which already has a partnership with Icelandair, will announce a new route from Baltimore/Washington (BWI) to Reykjavik’s Keflavik International Airport (KEF) sometime this fall, launching

Icelandair will commence a new service to Edinburgh, Scotland this September for the upcoming 2025 winter season.

The Nordic carrier said it will operate “either three or four flights a week” between its Reykjavik base and the Scottish capital. The seasonal service will run from 12 September 2025 through to 12 April 2026 and marks the airline’s second destination in Scotland following

Icelandair experienced a notable surge in passenger numbers in February 2025, transporting 251,000 passengers, a 7% increase compared to the same period in 2024. This growth came alongside an 8% expansion in capacity, reflecting the airline’s continued ability to cater to a growing demand for travel. Notably, 40% of these travelers were heading to Iceland, 20% were departing from the country, 33%

A new volcanic eruption in Iceland on Thursday, February 8, the third this year, led to the declaration of a state of emergency in the area.

Fountains of hot lava have been spewing into the air from a 3-kilometer fissure in the earth's surface since early Thursday morning, and the popular Blue Lagoon thermal spa resort has been forced to evacuate its guests and close for the