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The First Lady of Iceland has given some advice to future tourists who will come to her country.
TOURISM – If you are planning a trip to Iceland, the country’s First Lady has a message for you. In an interview published in New York Times, Thursday, June 1, 2023, Eliza Reid, wife of President Gudni Johannesson, gave several tips to the many tourists who come to Iceland. Before the pandemic, they were around 2 million per year. For a country with less than 400,000 inhabitants.
The first piece of advice concerns the dangers associated with nature. “We have hot springs with very hot water; we have active volcanoes; we have rogue waves on the beaches; we have strong winds. We think we’re invincible when we’re on vacation, but we still have to use common sense.”she recalls, when she was questioned about the Icelandic oath.
The Icelandic Oath
To preserve the environment, nature and the magnificent landscapes of the country, but also to protect oneself, Iceland offers its visitors to take an oath. In other words, to respect a charter of a few rules to be signed online.
“It’s a pledge to travel responsibly that anyone can make online. I think travelers want to know more about the countries they’re visiting and what they can do to help, but sometimes they don’t know how to access that information. The Icelandic oath is a good way to remind people to be respectful of nature and to make sure they have a plan in case of an incident”explains the one who was special ambassador of the United Nations for tourism and sustainable development.
In this charter, we can read: I promise to be a responsible tourist. » Or : “When I discover new places, I will leave them as I found them. » What about security? The last ” commandment “if you can call them that, invites visitors to prepare “for all weathers, all possibilities… all adventures”. New Zealand and Norway also have similar charters.
“Cultural Experiences”
But Eliza Reid doesn’t stop there. “I think when we travel, we remember the people we meet, the cultural experiences we have and everything that comes with it” she considers, before revealing the best place to meet Icelanders: “They say if you want to meet a Brit, go to a pub; if you want to meet a Frenchman, go to a café. Here in Iceland, we go to the swimming pool, because that’s where we can meet people, in the morning, in the afternoon or in the evening. »
“I recommend visitors to try different pools because they all have their own character and personality and you can meet different types of people there. They’re clean and affordable, and that’s something all locals do”she believes.
And who says cultural experience says discovery of food: “I’m reading Stanley Tucci’s book [un acteur américain qui a écrit en 2021 Taste : My Life Through Food, ndlr], who calls Icelandic food a revelation. I think he was expecting pickled ram’s testicles and putrid shark, but he got an amazing meal. And that’s the kind of stuff we remember on our travels. » Travelers to Iceland, you have been warned.
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