Sisimiut launches Community Specific Guidelines

November 1st, 2018

Sisimiut has become the first Greenlandic town to launch its own Community Specific Guidelines. The guidelines instruct tourists on how to be considerate visitors and were developed using a template created by the Association of Arctic Expedition Cruise Operators (AECO) and partners.

Sisimiut, the second largest town in Greenland, is a popular tourism destination and adventure hub. The town has now launched new guidelines for tourists visiting their community. The guidelines offer tips and tricks to get around and advice on how to be a considerate guest.

Among other things, the guidelines advise visitors ask before photographing locals and are reminded that local dogs are for work, not play or petting. Visitors are also encouraged to shop and eat locally to experience the culture up close, while supporting the community and traditions. Visitors are also advised to enjoy archaeological remains from a respectful distance and to leave only footprints behind.

The guidelines were created by the local business association Destination Arctic Circle with support from AECO and funding from NORA (North Atlantic Cooperation).

“Sisimiut is a popular tourist destination and these guidelines will help visitors understand our town. Tourists often visit for a short period, and these community guidelines are a great way of communicating local knowledge directly to visitors,” says Anette Lings, Arctic Incoming.

Frigg Jørgensen, executive director of AECO, hopes local communities and visitors will embrace the concept of community specific guidelines.

“We are delighted that Sisimiut has become the first Greenlandic community to develop their own Community Specific Guidelines using AECO’s template. These guidelines are a useful way of informing tourists of how to be a considerate visitor. Community engagement is an important aspect of sustainable tourism, and Community Specific Guidelines is one way of facilitating information flow between communities and visitors.”

Sisimiut Community Specific Guidelines are available on the web pages of Destination Arctic Circle and AECO.

Resources for download 

Press release in English 

Press release in Danish 

Press release in Greenlandic