News
Iceland to open Europe's largest national park
28 April 2008
The largest national park in Europe is set to welcome visitors in Iceland this year.
From 7 June, holidaymakers will be able to visit Vatnajokull national park, which at 13,000 square kilometres encompasses 13% of Iceland's landmass.
The park boasts a broad range of geographical elements, including volcanoes, glaciers, canyons, calderas, rivers, lakes and the most powerful waterfall in Europe.
A network of visitor centres and park ranger stations are currently being developed and are due to be completed some time in 2012.
It is estimated that the new national park could lead to an increase of between 5% and 7% in Iceland's annual visitor numbers, the equivalent of between 30,000 and 42,000 tourists a year.
Olof Yrr Atladottir, director general of the Icelandic Tourist Board, said: 'Visitors are a vital part of Iceland's rural economy and contribute positively to the protection and sustainability of our magnificent landscape.
'Personally, I see a myriad of possibilities for all sorts of activities opening up such as action tours, eco-recreation, study visits and learning experiences as well as the chance to experience the nurturing silence of Iceland's highlands.'
If you'd like to see this destination for yourself, use Opodo's travel search engine to find flights, hotels, holidays and car hire worldwide.
From 7 June, holidaymakers will be able to visit Vatnajokull national park, which at 13,000 square kilometres encompasses 13% of Iceland's landmass.
The park boasts a broad range of geographical elements, including volcanoes, glaciers, canyons, calderas, rivers, lakes and the most powerful waterfall in Europe.
A network of visitor centres and park ranger stations are currently being developed and are due to be completed some time in 2012.
It is estimated that the new national park could lead to an increase of between 5% and 7% in Iceland's annual visitor numbers, the equivalent of between 30,000 and 42,000 tourists a year.
Olof Yrr Atladottir, director general of the Icelandic Tourist Board, said: 'Visitors are a vital part of Iceland's rural economy and contribute positively to the protection and sustainability of our magnificent landscape.
'Personally, I see a myriad of possibilities for all sorts of activities opening up such as action tours, eco-recreation, study visits and learning experiences as well as the chance to experience the nurturing silence of Iceland's highlands.'
If you'd like to see this destination for yourself, use Opodo's travel search engine to find flights, hotels, holidays and car hire worldwide.
 |  |
Related stories
02 October 2008
- Light shows to come on in Iceland >
10 July 2008
- Icelandic island joins World Heritage list >
10 August 2007
- Visit celand's most 'unique' museum >
26 October 2006
- Iceland denies whaling affects tourism >
- Light shows to come on in Iceland >
10 July 2008
- Icelandic island joins World Heritage list >
10 August 2007
- Visit celand's most 'unique' museum >
26 October 2006
- Iceland denies whaling affects tourism >
Latest news
06 October 2008
- New Dubai development to boast world's tallest building >
- New cruise terminal to open in Hong Kong >
- 'Inside guide' to Scotland launched >
- Over 80% of holidaymakers to travel again in 2009 >
03 October 2008
- Hilton announces major expansion plans >
- Eurostar launches sale on new timetable >
- New Dubai development to boast world's tallest building >
- New cruise terminal to open in Hong Kong >
- 'Inside guide' to Scotland launched >
- Over 80% of holidaymakers to travel again in 2009 >
03 October 2008
- Hilton announces major expansion plans >
- Eurostar launches sale on new timetable >
