Listening, Learning & Collaborating: Local Dialogue on Cruise Tourism in Longyearbyen

In late April, AECO participated in a series of valuable meetings and events in Longyearbyen, marking one year since we strengthened our secretariat with local representation in Svalbard.

Cruise Café: Hearing from the Community

The Cruise Café, organized under the umbrella of the Svalbard Cruise Forum (SCF), offered an open invitation to residents of Longyearbyen to share their thoughts on cruise activity in their town. The goal: to ensure that local voices are heard as part of a constructive and transparent dialogue. Presentations covered how cruise calls are coordinated and distributed, and how the Forum works with operators and authorities.

“This type of local engagement is essential for sustainable expedition cruise tourism. We’re grateful for being a part of the important local conversation, and for the input and participation of the Longyearbyen community”

Head of Government Relations, Trine Krystad.

Local Stakeholder Meetings: Building Relationships and Exploring Solutions

AECO held meetings with key actors including Longyearbyen local community council (LL), Store Norske Spitsbergen Kulkompani (SNSK), the Governor of Svalbard, Visit Svalbard, and Svalbard Environmental Protection Fund . Discussions focused on topics such as:

• The cruise visitor tax and how it can support destination management, including funding for a dedicated cruise coordinator.
• The need for continued cooperation between local government and tourism actors.
• Cruise infrastructure, housing, and emergency preparedness.
• Environmental regulations and the importance of predictable processes for new policy development.

AECO also met with the new heads of administration at both Longyearbyen local community council and the Governor’s Environmental Department, reinforcing mutual understanding and identifying opportunities for future dialogue.

Cruise Forum: Clarifying Roles and Shared Goals

During the SCF partner meeting, discussions centered on how to continue the work of the forum in a financially sustainable way, with clear distinctions between commercial activities and community-oriented tasks. AECO emphasized that its involvement must remain focused on shared values and responsible tourism, and that commercially driven efforts should be financed through other channels.

There was broad agreement among partners on the value of having a dedicated contact point for cruise operators in Longyearbyen to communicate expectations, reduce potential conflicts, and maintain a strong link between the cruise industry and the local community.

Environment and Project Support: AECO’s Role and Responsibility

AECO’s meeting with the Svalbard Environmental Protection Fund offered useful insights into how to improve future applications for project funding. The Governor’s Environmental Department also expressed appreciation for AECO’s engagement and welcomed continued dialogue on environmental rules and planning.

We are, as always, grateful for the warm welcome from all partners and look forward to continued collaboration and dialogue in the years ahead.

Photo: From left -Trine Krystad, Head of Government Affairs at AECO; Frigg Jørgensen, Executive Director of AECO; and Ronny Brunvoll, CEO of Visit Svalbard.