Dutch travelers avoiding Greenland over U.S. tensions: travel agencies

Interest among Dutch tourists in visiting Greenland appears to be waning, say operators that focus on Arctic and other cold-climate holidays. Aurora Reizen reports a drop of roughly 20 to 30 percent in bookings this season compared with the same period last year, which it links to escalating political tensions involving Greenland, the European Union, and the United States. According to IJsland Tours, the downturn may be even steeper, between 50 and 70 percent, although the company says it is unclear whether geopolitical factors are directly responsible.

Ilse van den Hoven, the owner of IJsland Tours, says declining interest in Greenland fits a familiar pattern. “Whenever political instability and uncertainty emerge in a country, travelers tend to hold back,” she explains, noting that Greenland is no exception at the moment.

Her company organizes, among other offerings, group trips to the island. Van den Hoven adds that the international airport that opened near Nuuk at the end of 2024 could also be a factor in this year’s drop in popularity. Because the opening attracted widespread media coverage at the time, she suggests, Greenland may simply be less top of mind for potential travelers now.

Aurora Reizen is also noticing a clear slowdown in interest in trips to Greenland, according to owner Robert van Dijk. He says that not only bookings but also inquiries have fallen sharply, particularly over the past month to six weeks. During the past few weeks, the company has fielded dozens of questions about current conditions in Greenland, ranging from whether Dutch tourists are still able to travel there to what the future might hold. Aurora Reizen specializes, among other offerings, in multi-stop tours of the island.

Customers of IJsland Tours are increasingly concerned about the implications for their trips should Greenland’s travel advisory be revised. According to Van den Hoven, there is no reason for alarm at this stage, as the company is following the situation closely. She says the organization would respond right away if the advisory were to turn negative. Aurora Reizen is taking a similar approach, Van Dijk says, adding that his company will keep clients informed if circumstances change.

Both Van Dijk and Van den Hoven believe interest in traveling to Greenland will rebound once the situation stabilizes and uncertainty subsides. According to the owner of Aurora Reizen, the consequences are felt most keenly by local residents, for whom tourism represents a vital part of the economy.