One of Norway’s most scenic regions, Hardanger in fjord-rich western Norway, has given a resounding ‘NO!’ to a proposal to open up the area for helicopter tourism, with up to 1,100 flights a year.
The proposal by Statkraft, the local power company, to allow its landing pad in Eidfjord to be used for tourist helicopter flights over the scenic area, was originally welcomed by local officials; the Eidfjord municipal spokesman told NRK broadcasting last month that while “This type of tourism is not particularly desired [by residents], but we want to have [tourist] activity, so we want this as an option.”
But that was before locals spoke out strongly, concerned over helicopter traffic, noise, and effects on local glaciers and lakes. By this week, the spokesman was taking a different tack, saying “We will not offer tourist flights… I have never before seen a case in which so many have become engaged in such a short space of time.”
Photo: In the Hardanger region (Kallerna/Wikimedia)
