Community Guidelines
AECO’s Community Guidelines provide travelers with useful dos and don’ts when visiting Arctic communities. The guidelines have been developed with the input of local stakeholders and with funding from NORA. AECO’s Template for Development of Community Specific Guidelines is a tool used by Arctic communities to create guidelines specific to their own community.
Community Guidelines
Many of the countries and regions in the North Atlantic and the High Arctic are characterized by vast wilderness areas and a diversity of people, cultures and societies. We wish you a warm welcome to the North, and kindly ask you to follow some important guidelines to ensure that your visit results in a happy, friendly and sustainable experience for everyone.
Template for Development of Community Specific Guidelines
AECO is happy to present a template to those communities that wish to develop community specific guidelines, intended as helpful advice and an inspiration for those who would like to undertake such a project. The template contains an example of what such Community Specific Guidelines may look like.
Maniitsoq Community Guidelines
Maniitsoq is situated in an archipelago of surrounding mountains and glaciers, intersected by small natural canals. Maniitsoq is founded in 1782 and it is the last town before crossing the arctic circle. The approx. 2.600 inhabitants mainly work within construction, the fishing industry and are public workers.
Kangerlussuaq Community Guidelines
Kangerlussuaq serves as the gateway to the Greenland ice cap as well as to the rest of the world. This place has many beautiful and unique places to discover. The Arctic Circle Trail, the ice cap, a big population of reindeer and musk ox, glaciers and even Greenland’s longest road.
Nuuk Community Guidelines
Nuuk is the capital of Greenland, balancing commerce and culture with fresh air and stunning views. Nuuk’s embrace of both the traditional and modern can be seen in the city’s dynamic culture and way of life.
Paamiut Community Guidelines
Paamiut is embodied by snowy winter slopes, majestic wildlife, and a tourist density that will make you feel like the guest of honor around town.
Ittoqqortoormiit Community Guidelines
For many guests, just getting to Ittoqqortoormiit is in itself an adventure, as the town is almost as far as one can get from any other inhabited area in Greenland. Even though the sea ice blocks ship access to the town for about nine months of the year, Ittoqqortoormiit has nevertheless become an important cruise destination for small expeditionary vessels exploring the nature, wildlife and culture of Northeastern Greenland.
Tasiilaq Community Guidelines
The largest town in Eastern Greenland is the gateway to pretty much every kind of experience Greenland offers. The town, despite only having 2,000 inhabitants, is the gateway to a plethora of summer adventures on foot, in kayak, by boat or in the air. The winter adventures include dog sledding, skiing, heliskiing and snowmobiling.
Reykjanesbær Community Guidelines
Reykjanesbær is a young and dynamic community with a diverse and rapidly expanding population.
The district spreads over the Reykjanes Peninsula and it includes the UNESCO Global Geopark,
which was recognised because of its geological heritage of outstanding universal value.
Seyðisfjörður Community Guidelines
A place of singing waterfalls and peculiar characters, Seyðisfjörður is a welcoming town booming with creativity and rich in history. Inhabited by about 700 people, the town acts as one big family, and a friendly one at that. Everybody is welcome to our little paradise and we want to share the goodness with you.
Longyearbyen Community Guidelines
Welcome to Longyearbyen, the northernmost town in the world. You are visiting for a short period – let local knowledge guide you. We encourage you to do as the locals: respect wildlife, nature and each other!
Sisimiut Community Guidelines
Sisimiut is known for its will to do things its own way. It is the second largest town in Greenland with approximately 5,500 citizens. The town and its surrounding area have a rich history and boast archaeological ruins dating back more than 4,000 years.
Pond Inlet Community Guidelines
Welcome to Mittimatalik. We encourage you to explore our community, but please respect our privacy, our belongings, and our homes and yards. Treat us the way you wish to be treated in your community and in your home.
Grise Fiord Community Guidelines
We are proud of our heritage. Welcome to the most Northern Community in Canada and to our home – please understand that life is very different up here from what you’re probably used to. Welcome this wonderful opportunity to learn!
Akranes Community Guidelines
Akranes was granted the status of a chartered township in 1942 and is now the largest
municipality in West Iceland, bustling with life and vitality.
Djúpivogur Community Guidelines
Djúpivogur has around 500 inhabitants and is the only Cittaslow village in Iceland. Cittaslow means that
emphasis is put on local production, easy and calm lifestyle, and living in the now! Come enjoy our little village,
its remarkable nature, culture and good food. Take notice of our unique cliff formations in town, that´s one of
Djúpivogur´s signature sights.
Hrísey Community Guidelines
Hrísey is in the middle of the fjord Eyjafjörður and often referred to as the pearl of the fjord. It is Iceland’s
second largest island, 7,5 km long and 2,5 km at its widest point in the south.
Grímsey Community Guidelines
Grímsey is situated on the Arctic Circle 41 km off the north coast of Iceland. The island is 5.3 km2 in size
and is formed by volcanic rock which in places creates beautiful basalt columns.
Húsavík Community Guidelines
Húsavík in Skjálfandi Bay in North Iceland, is a town of just over two thousand people.
It is considered the best place in Iceland to watch whales.
Patreksfjörður Community Guidelines
Welcome to Patreksfjörður the place that prides itself on its amazing landscape, friendly community, local delicacies and rich history.
Ísafjörður Community Guidelines
Welcome to Ísafjörður, the largest town in the Westfjords. Despite having fewer than 3.000 inhabitants the metropolitan feel is unmistakable. Some say that this is because isolation has forced the inhabitants to become culturally self-sufficient and visitors quickly notice that Ísafjörður offers a rich cultural life. The town has, for example, two music schools, an active arts society, an amateur theatre, and numerous choirs.
Aasiaat Community Guidelines
Aasiaat is located on a small island and is part of a larger archipelago that runs along the southern part of Disko Bay. The land of a thousand islands gives nature lovers many ways to discover Disko Bay.
Qasigiannguit Community Guidelines
Qasigiannguit is located on the southeastern part of Disko Bay and is surrounded by spectacular 450m high mountains behind the town. Qasigiannguit is known for its good weather, and the air is considered to be Greenland’s best. The town is often referred to as the forgotten paradise by the locals.
Qeqertarsuaq Community Guidelines
Qeqertarsuaq, also known as Disko Island is the largest island in Greenland. The island is situated west of the central mainland of Greenland.
Reine Community Guidelines
Reine in Lofoten is arguably one of the most spectacular places you’re ever going to visit. This fishing village consists of a chain of islands, connected by bridges and winding roads, with Vestfjord on the one side, and Reinefjord and tall mountains on the other. You are visiting for a short period, and we encourage you to do as the locals do; respect nature and each other.
Henningsvær Community Guidelines
A village bustling with life and energy, just 500 inhabitants call Henningsvær home. You are visiting for a short period – let our knowledge guide you. We encourage you to do as the locals do; respect nature, and each other!
Ilulissat Community Guidelines
The UNESCO area was established in 2004, but Ilulissat has for many years been the biggest tourism hotspot in Greenland.
