GEOGRAPHY SUNDA MUNICIPALITY: SEIZING OPPORTUNITIES IN TOURISM JENS KRISTIAN VANG KRISTIAN JENS Sunda Municipality Mayor Heðin Zachariasen, pictured in the village of Gjógv (main); Sunda Kommuna Partial view of Norðskála and Oyrarbakki in the Sound Area with Oyrarbakkavegur 3 FO-400 Oyrarbakki bridge between the islands of Eysturoy and Streymoy (bottom left); Gjógv, Eysturoy (bottom centered); Saksun, Streymoy (bottom right). www.sunda.fo [email protected] Tel.: +298 66 72 71 Mayor: Heðin Zachariasen BOOSTING CAPACITY Tourism Officer: tors have while at the same time making life Noomi Káradóttir Rasmussen Another point of interest is the development easier for local residents.” Many of the most beautiful of a new park and recreational area, about With mountain hiking between villages natural pearls in the Faroe 90,000 square meters in size, where some rapidly gaining popularity, the natural en- Islands are situated in Sunda 70,000 threes will be planted. The project vironment of the islands becomes more ex- Municipality, located on the has received a grant from Denmark’s Aage posed to wear and pollution from a variety of islands of Eysturoy and Streymoy. V. Jensen Foundation and is likely to become sources. Sunda Municipality has responded Some of the most popular a valuable asset for Sunda Municipality in to this challenge through improving infor- tourist destinations include the the future. mation along the paths. villages Saksun, Tjørnuvík and Gjógv; besides these, Sunda “We really didn’t need to advertise for “We want everyone to enjoy these in- Municipality encompasses customers,” Noomi Káradóttir Rasmussen, credible surroundings,” Ms. Rasmussen said. the following communities: an officer of the municipal Council, not- “However, we also want to protect the envi- Norðskála, Oyri, Oyrarbakki, ed. “The tourists were already here and the ronment and make sure that the property Langasandur, Haldarsvík, number of visitors to Sunda Municipality is of private landowners is not infringed upon Streymnes, Hvalvík, Hósvík. second only to the capital Tórshavn. So our in any way. The measures we have taken in Tours and excursions, including primary focus has been to improve available this respect have turned out to be effective e.g. themed tours and facilities and add some new ones, in close and so far we definitely consider the overall business excursions, where collaboration with the local communities, effort a success.” participants get to challenge themselves with mountain while also trying to make sure the locals Work at making every part of Sunda hikes, rapelling, kayaking and are not being overrun by the growing influx Municipality attractive for visitors contin- more, can be booked through of visitors.” ues as new initiatives are regularly being dis- are available through North Centrally located Sunda Municipality is one of the most frequented places by people Ms. Rasmussen pointed out that some cussed and existing facilities maintained, Mr. Atlantic Xperience, www.nax.fo visiting the Faroe Islands—with local authorities playing a key supportive role in efforts of the settlements consist of only a handful Zachariasen noted. The main focus, however, Camping available through to develop tourism facilities throughout the area. of villagers, making the arrival of up to a is gradually shifting, he said. Gjáargarður Guesthouse thousand tourists on a busy day rather over- “Up until now, the Council has largely at +298 423171 or whelming at times. been at the forefront when it comes to devel- www.gjaargardur.fo. S MORE and more tourists dis- Municipality on an annual basis, and the lets, to name some. What makes Sunda “Working with tourism is always a two- opment in the tourism sector. What we now In Saksun the Dúvugarðar cover the Faroe Islands—indeed, its number is expected to grow. Municipality attractive, however, is lane approach,” she said, “for the visitors hope and expect to see is more private offer- farm and the church are Aabundance of scenic locations, cultural According to mayor Heðin Zacha- not merely its location. The area has its and on behalf of the local community. So ings, be it hiking tours, fishing trips, diving, very special historical sites heritage and hospitable inhabitants—lo- riasen, placing more emphasis on tour- own unique features and characteristics, we need to manage this business to a cer- or leisure and hospitality business, such as administrated by the Faroese cal authorities are realizing the growing ism was not a difficult decision for the ranging from the picturesque, old vil- tain extent. By improving parking facilities, new restaurants and cafes or even additional National Heritage, more info: potential for socioeconomic development municipal Council a few years back. lages of Saksun, Tjørnuvík and Gjógv, to www.savn.fo, Facebook/ walking paths and signposts, for example, we accommodation capacity.” duvugardar, Facebook/savn. presented by an ever-increasing flow of “Our central location has made a few vil- cultural sites such as the oldest wooden can help enhance the experience that visi- foreign visitors. lages and places in the municipality vir- church in the Faroe Islands, not to men- Among the various local communi- tually unavoidable for anyone who visits tion the marvelous octagonal church in ties throughout the islands, Sunda Mu- the Faroe Islands,” Mr. Zachariasen said. the idyllic town of Haldarsvík. nicipality is perhaps the best example of “About four years ago we decided Spanning a mountainous area that this trend. Covering the midmost area to improve our tourism facilities,” the encompasses 11 towns and villages, on the two largest and most populated mayor added. “In fact what we had in some of which are separated by quite a islands of Eysturoy and Streymoy, Sunda mind was not only our visitors but also distance relatively speaking—nothing is Municipality has been an obvious place the local population.” really far away in the Faroes—there are to go to for most tourists coming to the That decision by the Council led excellent hiking paths between the com- Faroe Islands. Tens of thousands of peo- to investments in walking paths, park- munities, most of which are constantly ple visit the villages and sites in Sunda ing spaces, signposting and public toi- being upgraded. EVA KISGYIRGY — VISIT FAROE ISLANDS EVA KISGYIRGY — VISIT FAROE ISLANDS VISIT FAROE ISLANDS 28 • 2017 Faroe Business Report Faroe Business Report 2017 • 29.