“It’s a privilege to be receive at one of Norway’s most iconic buildings in a city whose identity has long been shaped by the sea.

It is a privilege to be received in one of Norway’s most iconic buildings, in a city whose identity has long been shaped by the sea.

Just outside these walls, along Oslo’s waterfront, generations of Norwegians gathered to welcome home polar explorers such as Fridtjof Nansen and Roald Amundsen. Their expeditions helped shape our understanding of the Arctic, and their legacy continues to inspire all of us who work in the region today.

Oslo holds a special place in AECO’s history. The association was founded by eight Arctic expedition cruise operators at the Maritime Museum, not far from here, in 2003. There, they signed a shared commitment to ensure that Arctic tourism would develop responsibly and sustainably.

Twenty-three years later, those eight operators have grown into a community of more than 80 members, and AECO has expanded from Norway and Svalbard to encompass much of the Arctic.

Since 2003, Oslo has been the gathering place for what has become Arctic Expedition Cruise Week. This year, the event brings together 230 participants, including operators, destination representatives, authorities, researchers, and other stakeholders from across the Arctic and around the world.”