The sun sets over Ilulissat, Greenland, on Tuesday, February 18, 2025. AP
Greenland’s tourism industry is seeing a major boost thanks to US President Donald Trump’s comments and the recent opening of a new international airport in Nuuk. The sudden attention has sparked a rise in visitors, with tourism operators already seeing more bookings than ever before.
Ivik Knudsen-Ostermann, who runs Greenland Cruises, said that Trump has put the island "back on the map." His company offers boat tours to see the breathtaking blue icebergs, and he has noticed a significant increase in tourist interest. He shared that his bank has advised him to expand his business in preparation for the surge in visitors.
Greenland first gained global attention in January when Trump’s son, Donald Trump Jr., visited the new airport in Nuuk. Since then, the US president has repeatedly said he wants Greenland to become part of the United States, mainly because of its rich reserves of rare earth minerals, which are essential for high-tech industries.
The opening of the Nuuk airport in November last year has made traveling to Greenland much easier. Starting in June, United Airlines will offer direct flights from New York to Nuuk. Previously, travelers had to fly through Copenhagen and then transit at Kangerlussuaq, a former US military base.
Tourism is expected to grow even further with the construction of two more international airports. Ilulissat, a popular tourist destination famous for its UNESCO-listed ice fjord, will open its new airport in 2026. Another airport is being built in Qaqortoq in southern Greenland.
Jens Lauridsen, CEO of Greenland Airports, predicts a noticeable increase in visitors this summer. Tourism operators are already preparing for the influx, with many reporting a spike in bookings since the new airport opened. According to Visit Greenland, three-quarters of local tourism businesses saw increased reservations in the three months following the airport's launch.
However, Knudsen-Ostermann is cautious about rushing into expansion. Although the bank has encouraged him to buy more boats and hire more staff, he prefers to wait and see how the new airport impacts tourism throughout the year. "We don’t know what 2025 will bring, so I’m holding back a little," he said.
Greenland’s growing tourism industry is also reflected in the rising number of travelers. Statistics Greenland reported a 14% year-on-year increase in international flight passengers in January. Hotel stays have also steadily grown over the past decade, reaching 355,000 nights last year, up from 210,000 in 2014.
Tourists, like Danish visitor Lars Ipland, are eager to explore Greenland before it changes. "It’s a part of Denmark, so I thought I have to see it. With all this attention, who knows what will happen next?" he said.
As Greenland continues to draw global interest, its tourism sector is expected to thrive, creating new opportunities and challenges for the island.
