Are The Faroese People Senseless Terrorizing Murderous Dolphin Killers?

Some people outside the Faroes think that Faroese people are senseless primitive murderous inbred drunken brutal beasts who once a year kill thousands of intelligent dolphins for fun as a 'coming of age ritual' just to leave most of the whales to rot on the beach and feeding the rest of the poisonous meat to their innocent children. As if the Faroese were the most ignorant and worst enemies of nature you can find on the face of the earth. Sadly many people believe these fantastic stories. 

I understand the disgusted feelings it evokes in people to see the pictures that have been spread around. I admit that pilot whale killing looks like a brutal bloodbath with all those people participating in the kill running around on shore and in the water, seemingly for no purpose - and with all that blood in the sea. 

But the graphic pictures don't reveal the whole truth. Far from it. I understand it looks shocking to people who haven't seen anything like this before and don't know what is going on. To them it seems incomprehensible. So they judge it based only on their immediate feelings of disgust. Which one can't blame them for. They see it from their own angle - and in their view: how can anyone in their right mind kill dolphins that way - such wonderful creatures!? 

I must say for myself: I do NOT support pilot whaling unconditionally. I don't like to see animals being killed – like most people. I hate it. I wish humans could be less dependent on meat consumption. I think that dolphins as well as other whales are fascinating and wonderful creatures. So far I'm not that different from most people in the western world.  

What makes me different, though, is that I'm Faroese. I grew up in the Faroe Islands where people have been killing pilot whales for food for at least 1200 years (according to research based on archeological excavations). I do not eat pilot whale meat myself though (I don't like the taste of it. Actually I almost don't eat meat at all - just occasionally. But I like the blubber, though, together with dry fish). 

What made me write this blog post is, that I don't recognize the picture at all painted of my people in all these anti-whaling campaigns and petitions flourishing all over where people sign up to express their disgust about the Faroese pilot whaling tradition. It makes me so sad to see all the prejudice and all these wildly exaggerated wrongful rumors about my people that have been spread through out the world by people – either on purpose as part of shock tactics to get their anti-whaling point across, or because they don't know better – when the truth is that for the Faroese people the pilot whale killing has always been a matter of survival – and still is in a way. It certainly does not help the whales to agitate people. I'll get back to that point further down in this blog post. 

I will try to explain – in an honest, truthful way – what is going on, seen from a Faroese angle. And I will kindly ask you, the reader, to forget – just for a moment – all that you've seen and/or heard about pilot whaling in the Faroes, and set all the emotions of disgust and anger it created aside, and just try to read this blog post without any prejudice. 

First, let's correct some misunderstandings 

The "dolphins" the Faroese kill are not bottlenose dolphins (like 'Flipper') who most people are familiar with, but long-finned pilot whales which is another species, though it is in the same family – only the pilot whale behaves more like a big whale than like a dolphin. But that might be beside the point for many, so I won't dwell with that. The fact is that the Faroese have always looked upon pilot whales as a source of food in pretty much the same manner as most people in the world look upon cattle or pigs as a source of food (even though pigs, for instance, actually are quite sentient, social and intelligent animals, perhaps just as much as pilot whales). 

Almost any foreign article I've read about pilot whaling in the Faroe Islands, claims that the pilot whale killings take place "once a year". I don't know from where this misunderstanding originates. Perhaps it came about because Faroese officials have used the phrase: "annual kill", which doesn't refer to a single event – they actually just refer to the amount of whales killed on average over the course of a year. In fact pilot whale killings can take place several times during a year, and some years no killings take place at all. 

It is also claimed that pilot whaling only takes place in the summer. This is also a misunderstanding. Pilot whaling takes place randomly when pods of pilot whales are spotted, for instance from land or from small boats sailing close to shore in the waters between the islands. Since there is more boat traffic in Faroese waters in the summer, the likelihood of a pilot whale kill taking place in the summer is greater than in the winter, but pilot whaling can and does take place in other seasons as well. 

Many foreigners refer to the pilot whale slaughter in the Faroes as a 'ritual', which the Faroese perform as a 'celebration' of the 'coming of age' of young men. This is ridiculous. This misunderstanding probably comes from some words and phrases being mixed up. Some people probably get the connotation 'ritual' and 'tribe' when they hear the word 'tradition', and forget that their own habit of eating turkey for Christmas dinner is also a 'tradition'. Some Faroese might have said at some point, that they think that boys somehow become grown men when they participate in a whale kill the first time, because this reality of life and death somehow toughens them up, but this is far from saying that the kill is done for this purpose only! 

It is also often claimed that the pilot whale killing is a 'celebration' and a 'feast' - almost like a carnival, which outsiders find quite offensive. But this is highly exaggerated. One must understand that in the old days the Faroese, obviously, were very pleased that by killing the pilot whales, they had obtained enough food to ensure their own survival in a long time, which they understandably thought was worth celebrating. Moreover, it was not possible for many who participated in the killing to sail home the same day or evening. Accordingly, they stayed in the village and then everybody gathered to sing and dance together to greet each other, keep warm and talk about their achievement. Today this particular part of the tradition is no more, though some of the whalers sometimes might gather afterwards to drink a few beers at the local pub, if they like, just because they are happy to see each other. 

I would think this is quite normal human behavior, but sometimes it seems that people elsewhere way too willingly misunderstand all this, perhaps because they subconsciously search for something to confirm their own prejudice. Their initial reaction to the often very dramatic descriptions and portrayals of the whale killings they come across is, understandably, disgust. Perhaps they just need to justify their own feelings. Since dramatic descriptions by often quite ignorant – or biased – outsiders far outnumber the Faroese viewpoint in global media and / or online, people might have small chances to get acquainted with all the facts, which perhaps could explain the incomprehensible. Which is why I write this blog post. 

Pilot whale killing not as brutal as it seems 

Even if it might be hard to believe, the pilot whale killing is in fact not as brutal as it seems. It's not about a lot of insane people just throwing themselves into a killing frenzy making as much harm to the whales as they possibly can - which many people seem to believe, and want others to believe too by spreading these inflammatory messages. But most of these people have never been there themselves and have never spoken to any Faroese people asking them what is going on. 

Behind the spectacle is a highly developed killing method - a joint effort - which makes sure that the killing is done as quickly as possible to minimize the whales' suffering as much as humanely possible. Killing such big animals is challenging. Suffering can, unfortunately, never be totally eradicated, just as any other animals' suffering killed for food elsewhere in the world can't be eradicated. But of course suffering can be minimized - which the Faroese are eager to do even if it doesn't seem so to an outsider. 

There is a purpose for all those people being there at the kill. Everyone has a task that takes certain skills that have been passed on from generation to generation. The more people participate in the pilot whaling the quicker it's over with. 

Some of them drive the whales to shore with boats to make as many whales as possible swim up unto the beach.

Some of them wade into the water to pull the remaining whales the last bit of the way up onshore with (rounded) hooks in the blowholes - which is the quickest way to do it. The sharp hooks one sometimes can see in pictures of the killings are ONLY used to move whales away that have already been killed.

Some people stand ready on the beach to cut the whales' spine with a knife in one movement in the second the whale is positioned to make sure that the whale is killed as quickly as possible. Lately a new killing method has been developed – a special tool, which cuts the spine in an instant. This means that every single whale dies within 4-5 seconds (!) on average – not minutes, as one often sees, outsiders claim. 

Some take the killed whales away to somewhere where the meat is cut, divided and distributed in the community. Every single bit of meat and blubber is used for food and everyone gets their share for free. There is a law that demands that nothing must go to waste and that any leftovers, like bones, the scull and intestines unfit for consumption, must be taken away within 24 hours.

So some take the bones, the scull and intestines and dump them in the ocean in deep water with strong currents, where they probably would have ended up anyway if the whales had died of natural causes.

And some take their children to see how all this is done from A to Z. Not for entertainment but to teach them the facts of life on these islands and how people survive here. That is how it's been done for many centuries. 

Yes, there is a lot of blood – these are very big animals. They loose a lot of blood instantly when they're killed properly. The quicker the sea gets red it's a sign that the killing has been swift and effective.

Usually the number of whales in a pod counts from 50 up to 200 animals. The actual killing of ALL the whales in a pod is over with in approximately 10-15 minutes, perhaps up to 20 minutes if there are many whales in the pod, but very, very rarely more than that. Not more than it takes to kill pigs in a slaughter house. 

Traditional diet in danger – not because of the Faroese, but because of the outside world

As I mentioned before, excavations show that pilot whales have been part of the diet on the islands for at least 1200 years. According to scientific study there are presumably 750,000 pilot whales in the North Atlantic, at least  (http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/species/mammals/cetaceans/pilotwhale_longfinned.htm). The Pilot whales are not on the list of endangered species. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species considers this species "Low Risk Least Concern."

The Faroe Islanders have monitored their whale killings since 1584, and the numbers show that they have taken an average of 850 pilot whales yearly since then – some years more, some years less, some years none at all. That is approximately 0,1 % of the whole population on average taken every year. (Not 1% as I've seen claimed many places. No, it's ten times less than that: zero point one percent!). This means that the pilot whaling in the Faroes does NOT threat the pilot whale population as a whole. NOAA states that the bycatch to fishing gear is the primary threat to pilot whales. Long-finned pilot whales are entangled, incidentally taken, or interact with a number of fishing gear, that include gillnets, longlines, and trawls. Also threatening this species are heavy metals, pesticides, pollutants, and various contaminants in the marine environment that have been found in this species' blubber.

According to the Faroese themselves, they haven't seen the number of pods swimming by the islands decrease – seen over time – all these years they have killed pilot whales. Of course, there has always been some fluctuation of natural causes, for instance, because some years the pilot whales' own diet – the squids – swim further from the Faroese shores than other years. But the Faroese are convinced that the killing is still sustainable. If the number should decrease it's pretty certain that the Faroese aren't to blame. It's most likely because of changes in the whales' natural environment caused by pollution.

Note that it is Faroese researchers who have been studying the pilot whale and who have brought the world's attention to the problem with contamination of the whale population and the dangers of mercury poisoning. Why would the Faroese do that if they didn't care? 

In reality, the Faroese are very conscious of the fact that they must take care of nature - including the whales and the whale stocks. The Faroese are very aware of how important it is to preserve this natural resource, to keep it healthy and keep the killing sustainable because their people have been vitally dependent on whale meat for centuries. So they do not kill more than needed and not enough to endanger the species - just like they've always done. There are cases where whale pods have been driven back to sea because authorities have estimated that people have received enough whale meat.

People do not eat more than the researchers recommend – but it is also important to note that even if the researchers have issued a warning they also acknowledge the fact that the whale meat is rich in poly-unsaturated fats, and essential vitamins and minerals, such as selenium, which means that there are still health benefits to be gained by eating whale meat if one just makes sure that the intake is limited.

Crucial for survival in the old days - and still is in a way

Pilot whale killing was absolutely crucial for survival back in the old days where it was almost impossible to get hold of vegetables (and difficult to get hold of the vitamins that go with them) at this latitude. People shared the meat in solidarity with each other. It was distributed to the local community according to rules made a thousand years ago, where especially elderly and sick people and widows were taken into consideration – a tradition the Faroese have kept intact until this day. They still don't kill whales for commercial purposes. 

It has simply been a question of helping the whole community to survive in a very harsh and inhospitable environment on some isolated islands in the middle of the North Atlantic. The pilot whale is therefore still highly valued by the Faroese as a life saving contributor and a symbol of a unique solidarity between the islanders. 

But why do the Faroese still kill pilot whales in modern times? Is it necessary? This is a tricky question because it's a little complicated to explain why people here still find killing pilot whales somehow necessary - even if the meat is polluted. Quite incomprehensible, isn't it? 

People might understand why it was necessary in the old days, but now? Why now? Well... Faroese economy is still heavily reliant on primary production and has only recently begun to make inroads into secondary and tertiary provision. It is, even today, often difficult to run business and make ends meet in this remote area. It is expensive to import and buy vegetables. Economy fluctuates much more here than in other countries in the modern world because the Faroese income is dependent on nature’s fragile balance and often quite irregular cycles. 

As late as in the early 90'ies there was a huge economic crisis that consequently had almost a fourth of the people migrate from the islands. Parts of the remaining population survived by helping each other, for instance exchanging goods without having money involved. In these years whale meat was a very important part of the meat consumption. A fourth of the whole meat consumption was pilot whale meat.

It means that in the eyes of the Faroese the pilot whale has up to this day been one of the most important key factors for their survival – especially in times of economic crisis. Crises and recessions occur relatively often in islands like the Faroes with harsh natural environments and fragile homogenous economies. These predicaments usually hit the island people hard. 

Faroe Islanders are therefore used to rescue themselves by going back to basics from time to time – even if they on a daily basis seem to live a modern life today. But the Faroese are – from bitter experience – never far from the next crisis in their mind – and thus never far from the basics of life either. 

Today the world economic crisis rages and has hit the Faroese people as well. One of the two biggest banks in the Faroes went bankrupt this year and we have still not seen the magnitude of the consequences following this severe bank crisis. 

Now that we are all affected by the ongoing world economic crisis, it is, for instance, natural for the Faroese to think that if the crisis gets even worse in the future, killing whales might still be very important for survival. So why give it up and forget all about the skills of killing pilot whales? These skills might come in very handy one day if everything else crumbles. The rest of the world may very well suddenly be on fire and then the Faroese will find themselves cut off and all alone out there, far away in the ocean - totally dependent on what is available on site. 

That is part of the reason why the Faroese have been so reluctant to give up on this tradition, even if they regard themselves as a modern civilized people in many ways today and usually, in better times, aren’t as dependent on whale meat as they have been before. But they want to preserve their inherited whale driving and killing skills because they still feel that they live in an environment that demands of them that they trust more in themselves, i.e. in their bare hands together with nature’s mercy, as the best guarantee for survival. 

Rather than settling for being entirely dependent on import and the modern worlds complicated and fraud full economic systems, they rely on what ever they’re able to harvest directly from their surrounding natural environment. They feel very strongly about this because they are proud of their old traditions that helped them survive for so long. Of course they choose to hold on to what ever makes them feel the safest, the strongest and the least vulnerable.

Misunderstood by the world outside

Let’s give it an extra thought. Of course it is difficult for people from outside the Faroe Islands to understand the Faroese people’s behavior; especially if they haven’t ever experienced that their life was dependent on what they could harvest directly from wild nature. It’s only natural that they find it disturbing, if they focus solely on the unfortunate animals and not on the livelihood of the people who live in places where you can’t grow vegetables and where people for so long had to survive with whatever means they had available. 

Most people would probably feel quite helpless if they had to kill an animal with their bare hands in order to get a meal on their table. But they don't have to do anything disgusting like that because they live a modern civilised life with all necessities within close reach. With those living conditions it's very easy to forget that they're actually themselves dependent on the killing of animals too.

Of course they know it, but they probably prefer not to think too much about it. I guess they don’t like to think of themselves as some kind of predators. But the fact is, that most people eat animals without giving it a single thought that somebody had to kill the animal, for them to be able to eat it. The modern world has created a whole industry out of people's need to displace these facts. We do whatever we can to distance ourselves from the fact that we - humans - exploit animals by making it as invisible and painless (for ourselves) as possible that we breed animals to kill them so we can eat their meat. We don't want to know about it so we hide it away so we don't have to look at it. 

Considering this, I’m not surprised why people get so angry with the Faroese. How can people who never see animals being slaughtered and don’t have any direct contact with animals (other than pets of course) feel otherwise than they do? How can people that almost only see wild animals in zoo – or as they are portrayed on TV or films made for entertainment – be any other than sentimental about these animals. How can they NOT get shocked by the bloody images of whale slaughter. It's very understandable.

But can they be sure that their own life style is a better alternative? Can they be sure that it is right to judge so harshly so quickly just based on the feelings some seemingly brutal pictures evoke in them? Can they be sure that they're not blinded themselves by their own self-righteousness? Are they themselves in a position to point at others?

What they don't know (or perhaps don't want to know) is, that they might themselves, very likely, be a much bigger threat to nature and the whale populations of the world than the Faroese will ever be. Their modern way of living is based on a heavily polluting mass industry which has much more unfortunate consequences for nature in the long run – including the whales. Their food consumption is dependent on an often extremely polluting agriculture, or on all the poor animals that have become domesticated living their whole life in captivity, often under horrible circumstances, totally on the mercy of humans, bred only for one purpose – to be meat for humans. The Faroese old way of living has, on the other hand, proved to be a much more life-sustaining way with much less impact on nature – allowing the animals to live a free life until the moment they are killed.

What can we all learn? 

What to do about it? I don't know.... Is it possible to learn from each other and make the gap smaller between the old Faroese traditional - and actually more eco friendly – way of living and the modern life....? That's the big question.... 

Are pilot whales more special creatures than so many other – also sentient creatures humans kill for food? Should they get special treatment for that reason? (As I've stated before, the pilot whales are not on the list of endangered species.) I really don't know. I'm just asking the question. Who's to decide where the limit should be to which animals should be allowed to kill for food and which not? If the degree of animals social skills should be the criteria that determines which animals are fit for killing for food or not, why do we kill pigs or hens? They are highly sociable animals. If intelligence should be the criteria, pigs should definitely not be on the list. Latest research shows that squids are highly intelligent creatures, but we eat them anyway – yes, even pilot whales eat squids! What do we make of that? Define it as inhumane, unacceptable behavior? 

And if the suffering of the whales is the big concern, well, is there someone who can come up with a better way to do the killing, to make it more "humane" (whatever that means)? I am absolutely sure that the Faroese will be open to reason and very happy to take some friendly advice. They have proved that they have done so in the past – they have listened to criticism, if it's been fair, and have changed their ways. 

To ask the Faroese to stop this practice and just become vegetarians would seem a little unrealistic considering how expensive it is to buy vegetables in the Faroes because all vegetables must be imported from far away. And it would seem a little hypocritical to ask the Faroese to start importing more meat from other animals – maybe treated less humanely than the whales. This meat would also have to be imported and transported over long distances in heavily polluting freight vessels that seriously damage the habitat of the whales – the ocean – and cause the contamination of whales... No, there is no simple solution. 

So... if you are really interested in doing the best for the whales (and not just blindly following some inflammatory out-roar pleasing your own need to burst your aggression out) then try to get the facts right and act as respectfully as you would want the Faroese to act. Get into a constructive dialogue, please.

This is an important topic to discuss! If you're interested in knowing more about this topic, read also the page about pilot whaling on my other website: http://www.heinesen.fo/faroeislandsreview/pilotwhaling.htm - especially the last 3-4 sections about why all the anti-whaling campaigns have failed – and perhaps just endanger the pilot whales even more....! 

The point I'm trying to make is this: The more people outside the Faroes condemn the Faroese, and the more they punish the Faroese by not buying their export goods or by not travelling to the islands, the more isolated will the Faroese be from the rest of the world, and the more they will tend to stick to their old traditions – which in the end means that more pilot whales will be killed! 

And here at last – if you have managed to read this far – I want to tell you about a very good source, if you want to get the facts right. There is a website where you can find all the facts about pilot whaling – about the tradition, research, international whaling treaties, as well as the scientific, the political and the legal and judicial facts, down to the last detail: http://whaling.fo – check it out! 

Elin Brimheim Heinesen, 8. September 2009

Føroyar – eitt ævintýrligt goymistað

Fyrsta av fýra greinum um, hvussu tóm hotelkømur verða fylt,

eftir Elina Brimheim Heinesen, fyrrverandi stjóra í SamViti

National Geographic Traveler skýrdi Føroyar at vera besta, mest óspilta oyggjalandið í heiminum. Tað er ikki uttan orsøk, at ein slík kanning er vorðin almannakunnngjørt júst hesi  árini, og at eitt land sum Føroyar endar á ovastu rók. Elin Brimheim Heinesen hugleiðir um, hví rákið hóast alt er til fyrimuns fyri Føroyar, og hvat tað merkir fyri framtíðar ferðavinnumøguleikar í landinum.

Hóast ein ávís afturgongd tykist at vera í ferðafólkatalinum til Føroya beint í løtuni, so vænti eg, at gongdin vendir aftur, men bert um føroyingar seta seg inn í og duga at lofta alheimsrákinum beint nú. Tað er ikki ógjørligt at venda gongdini, tí eitt vaksandi tal av ferðafólkum leita eftir øðrvísi, meira óspiltum og tryggum ferðamálum. Tey ynskja at koma burtur úr dagliga trummirumminum eina løtu, seta ferðina niður og sleppa sær undan eini larmandi, hóttandi og dálkaðari verð, sum bara tykist at mala skjótari og skjótari.

Fleiri og fleiri ynskja at ferðast til upprunakend, náttúruvøkur støð, har tey fáa frið at brúka allar sansir, so tey kenna seg meira frísk og livandi – anda djúpt og bara síggja, merkja, lurta, lukta og smakka. Tey ynskja at fáa frískan íblástur og at seta ferð á hugflogið og skapanarhugin. Tað finnast ikki so nógv ferðamál longur, sum kunnu møta øllum hesum krøvum. Men Føroyar hóska sum fótur í hosu til tørvin og hava tí allar møguleikar fyri at gerast eitt “trendy” ferðamál, um føroyingar bara duga at gagnnýta eftirspurningin úti í heimi til egnan fyrimun.

Í sambandi við seinasta ferðavinnukjakið í miðlunum, umframt sokallaða vakstrar- ella ‘kreppupakkan’, har politikkarar nú lova at seta pengar av til marknaðarføring av Føroyum m.a. sum ferðaland, hevur undirritaða hug at koma við nøkrum hugleiðingum um, hvussu hetta kann gerast, nú eg ikki longur havi ábyrgd fyri almennu umsitingini av m.a. ferðavinnu. Vónandi kann mítt íkast tó enn koma framtíðar ferðavinnu í Føroyum til góðar.

Hvat onnur siga um Føroyar
Tá ein av heimsins fremstu serfrøðingum í tjóðarbranding, Simon Anholt, varð spurdur av einum ritstjóra frá Bradt’s Travel Guides, heimsins størsta ferðabókaforlag, um hann vildi geva sítt íkast til eina ferðaleiðbeiningarbók um Shangri La (eitt land bert til í søgnum) segði hann: “Eg síggi Føroyar sum sagnarlandið Shangri La í 21’ndu øld”. Tað er als ikki óvanligt at hoyra útsagnir sum hesa og sum ta, ið tann australski journalisturin Eric Campbell frá australsku sjónvarpssendingini “Foreign Correspondent”, segði: “Burtur av leið og undrunasamt hugfangandi síggja oyggjarnar út sum okkurt úr eini fornnorrønari søgn”. Hann segði eisini: ”Føroyar kunnu væl gerast heimsins næsta land!” (The Faroe Islands could very well be the world’s next country!) Harvið meinti hann, at Føroyar fóru kanska í næstum at gerast eitt tað mest spennandi landið í heiminum at ferðast til.

Í eini New York Times grein í 2007 við yvirskriftini: “Into the Mystical Unreal Reality of the Faroe Islands” (Inn í gandakenda óveruliga veruleikan í Føroyum), lýsir høvundurin Føroyar sum “the most curious place left on earth” (tað mest forvitnisliga landið, sum er eftir í heiminum). Journalisturin Stephen Metcalf lýsti sína fatan soleiðis: “Føroyar eru sanniliga tað mest stemningsfulla og vakrasta staðið, eg nakrantíð havi verið”. Onnur úttrykkja tað við orðum sum “otherwordly” (sum úr øðrum heimi) ella sum “Lord of the Rings-country” (Land Ringanna Harra) og onnur aftur sum “The Grand Canyon í Norðuratlantshavi”.

Bestu oyggjar í heiminum
Hóast nógvir útlendingar halda, at Føroyar eru heilt serstaka vakrar og spennandi sum ferðamál, eru Føroyar enn ikki at síggja í nógvum ferðakatalogum. Hetta kann tó møguliga fara og broyta seg, tí National Geographic Traveler skýrdi Føroyar at vera tær bestu og mest dragandi oyggjarnar út av 111 oyggjasamfeløgum í heiminum – frammanfyri Azorurnar, Bahama Oyggjarnar, Hawaii, Ísland og eina rúgvu av øðrum fantastiskum oyggjasamfeløgum. 522 ferðaserfrøðingur komu fram til hetta úrslitið seint í 2007. Ein líknandi kanning verður ikki gjørd í bræði aftur, so henda kanningin verður tí galdandi nógv ár fram. (sí http://www.nationalgeographic.com/traveler/features/islandsrated0711/islands.html)
Hetta hevur givið Føroyum ómetaliga virðismikið lýsingarvirði. Men harvið eru ikki allar súður syftar.

Møguligir vandar fyri framman
Føroyar eru eitt pinkalítið land, har fá fólk búgva. Tað merkir við øðrum orðum, at føroyingar í mun til onnur lond hava sera avmarkaða fíggjarliga orku til at marknaðarføra seg. Tað er fremsta orsøkin til, at landið er so ókent. Men føroyingar hava tó ein stóran fyrimun – tí Føroyar á mangan hátt hava eitt ríkari og óspiltari náttúru- og mentanartilfeingi at bjóða enn so nógv onnur lond. Størsti parturin av heiminum hevur bara ikki rættiliga so nógvar møguleikar fyri at fáa eyga á tað.

Hóast veðurlagið í Føroyum er avbjóðandi, eiga føroyingar ikki at undirmeta atdráttarmegina, sum Føroyar kunnu hava, um tær vóru sjónligari – eisini hóast ferðafólkatalið beint nú sær út til at minka. Rákið kann skjótt venda aftur. Eingin veit, um ella nær okkurt hendir, sum setir Føroyar á heimskortið, sum kann føra til, at landið kemur uppá móta at ferðast til. T.d. at føroyingar fáa ein kendan ‘ambassadør’ – eins og Bjørk er ambassadørur fyri Ísland ella ABBA hevur verið tað fyri Svøríki.

Sjálv haldi eg, at Føroyar hava sera góðar møguleikar fyri at menna eina lønandi ferðavinnu. Hetta hoyri eg útlendingar, sum hava verið í Føroyum, siga í heilum. Teir síggja nógvar óbrúktar møguleikar. Men ynskja føroyingar at brúka hesar møguleikar? Hvat slag av ferðavinnu ynskja føroyingar? Er t.d. hópferðavinna í Føroyum ynskilig?

Viðkvæmar oyggjar Tað er týdningarmikið at minnast til, at av tí at oyggjarnar eru so smáar, eru tær eisini sera viðkvæmar, so sum National Geographic Traveler eisini hevur gjørt vart við. Føroyingar kunnu skjótt spenna bein fyri sær sjálvum og missa tjansin fyri at gagnnýta góðar møguleikar, ið standa teimum í boði, um fólk byrja at selja ov nógv út av tí, sum landið hevur, ov skjótt. Tað hevur stóran týdning at gera alt fyri at sleppa undan at gera mistøk, har ikki vendst við aftur, tí tey mistøk føroyingar gera í dag, kunnu sera skjótt føra til, at júst teir fyrimunir, sum gera Føroyar so serstakar og dragandi beint nú, fara fyri skeyti.

Undir øllum umstøðum er neyðugt at fyrireika seg og leggja lunnar undir framtíðar ferðavinnu. Men fyrst mugu týdningarmiklir spurningar svarast, so sum: Hvussu nógv ferðafólk kunnu oyggjarnar rúmast? Nær eru tey so nógv, at tey órógva tey náttúrligu og mentanarligu upprunaeyðkenni, sum beint nú verða roknað sum bestu fyrimunir Føroya? Veðrið kann eingin gera nakað við, men til ber at ansa eftir tí tilfeingi, sum eyðkennir Føroyar, og sum er so serstakt, at tað verður roknað sum tað mest virðismikla føroyingar eiga – kanska serliga í annara eygum.

Sjálv vóni eg, at føroysk ferðavinna kann mennast til eina lønandi vinnu, men samstundis eisini til eina burðardygga og vistfrøðivinarliga vinnu, ið ikki oyðileggur virðismiklu og lutvíst óspiltu náttúruna og mentanina í Føroyum, sum teir 522 ferðaserfrøðingarnir á National Geographic Traveler eisini løgdu so stóran dent á. Tí hevur tað so stóran týdning at menna eina ferðavinnu, sum hjálpir føroyingum at varðveita sínar fyrimunir, sum Føroyar hava fram um onnur lond, og sum nógvir føroyingar sjálvir eisini elska og ikki ynskja at missa. Bera fólk seg skilagott at, eigur tað at bera til.

Ein vistfrøðivinalig og burðardygg ferðavinna Hópferðavinna er neyvan realistisk at fara eftir. Hon er heldur ikki tað verd, um føroyingar ynskja at varðveita sinar bestu fyrimunir, sum teir skulu liva av eisini í framtíðini. Í longdini fæst best burtur úr  at miða eftir hóskandi mongdum av tí slagnum av ferðafólkum, sum nettupp ikki ynskja “yvirturistað” støð, men fegin vilja gjalda meira fyri at vitja og uppliva “goymistøð”, har til ber at goyma seg burtur frá eini strongdari verð – og tó enn liva trygt og komfortabult.

Orsaka av heimsumfatandi veðurlags- og umhvørviskreppuni leggja fleiri og fleiri ferðfafólk alt størri dent á tað reina og óspilta, á burðardygd og vistfrøðiliga javnvág. Tvs. tey ynskja at ferðast til óspilt støð og ynskja ikki at ávirka ella broyta hesi støðini. Hesi ferðafólk vísa seg samstundis at vera tað slagið av ferðafólki, sum leggja lutvíst nógv fleiri pengar eftir seg. Tey velja tilvitað at leggja sínar pengar lokalt fyri at hjálpa lokalsamfelagnum á best møguliga hátt við at varðveita sín uppruna, tí tey ynskja, at tær mentanir og tann náttúra, tey vitja, verða varðveitt so væl sum gjørligt í sínum upprunalíki.

Upprunaleiki er vorðin ein veruliga eftirspurd mangulvøra í heiminum í dag.  Her hava Føroyar fyrimun, tí landið er – við síni sterku siðvenju og serligu náttúru – lutvíst meira upprunakent og serstakt í mun til onnur lond. Tað var tí, at Føroyar gjørdist nummar eitt á listanum hjá National Geographic Traveler. Spurningurin er í hvønn mun føroyingar sjálvir framhaldandi ynskja at liva upp til heiðurin.

Hvør er atdráttarmegin?
Fyri einaferð enn at ímynda ta møguligu atdráttarmegina, Føroyar hava, og undirstrika, hví eg haldi, at talið av ferðafólkum kann vaksa munandi í framtíðini, so fari eg her at endurgeva, hvussu ein bólkur av surfarum hava lýst Føroyar: “Oydnar strendur. Ein ómetaliga vøkur náttúra. Fullkomnar aldur. Hetta er júst tað, ein og hvør surfari bara droymir um... Fyri tveimum árum síðani ferðaðist ein bólkur av surfarum norður til Føroya. Tað, sum teir funnu har, gjørdi teir púrasta ovfarnar. Fleiri hundrað kilometrar av fólkatómum sjóvarstrondum. 18 tímar langar surfing dagar, ein streymur av aldum, sum áhaldandi rullaðu inn á strendurnar norðan úr havi. Tær fantastisku myndirnar, sum fotografurin Ouhilal vendi aftur við, vístu, at Føroyar eru eitt slag av Hawaii’anskum paradísi, har sandstrendurnar eru skiftar út við grønt gras, hotellini við flagtaktar smáttur, og einastu áskoðarafjøldirnar eru seyðir á biti.”

Fyrilitarloysi kann oyðileggja møguleikar Føroya Hetta er alt mikið gott – og surfarar eru helst ikki tey ringastu ferðafólkini at draga at sær. Tó so... um Føroyar fara at vekja alt størri ans millum surfarar og onnur fólk, sum hava lutvíst stóra ávirkan á alheimsrákið, so eri eg vís í, at størri fjøldir skjótt eisini gerast varug við hetta forkunnuga landið. Tíðindini kunnu skjótt ganga sum rótasúpan. Kend fólk kanska byrja at vitja. Og áðrenn fólk vita av tí, kunnu føroyingar fáa nakað, sum líkist einari innrás – ikki bara av surfarum, men eisini øllum møguligum øðrum, sum fylgja aftaná fyri at “herma” eftir sínum hetjum. Tað skal ikki altíð so nógv til, at ein nýggjur ‘móti’ fangar – bara hepni at gera tað rætta til røttu tíð.

Spurningurin er, hvat vit ynskja okkum. “Be careful what you wish for – it might come true” (Ansa eftir, hvat tú ynskir tær – tað kann gerast veruligt), siga fleiri útlendingar við føroyingar. Eingin veit tað við vissu, men núverandi støða kann broytast – kanska knappliga – júst  sum íslendingar upplivdu tað fyri nøkrum árum síðani. Innrásin har broytti teirra samfelag, so tey í dag hava mist ein stóran part av teirra upprunaleika í eygunum á mongum, tí tey ‘rúsaðust’ av menningini og vóru ov ágrýtin eftir at broyta sítt samfelag til ein altjóða standard – nakað, sum nógv ferðafólk í dag lasta íslendingar fyri, og nógvir íslendingar sjálvir eru harmir um, tí teir kenna, at teir hava mist sína sál. Fleiri hava tí rátt føroyingum til ikki at gera tað sama. So spurningurin er, um føroyingar kunnu læra av teim mistøkum, íslendingar hava gjørt. Tað gevur jú Føroyum ein fyrimun ikki at vera sum Ísland.

Í løtuni er ferðavinna tó ikki nøkur serliga lønandi vinna í Føroyum. Hetta ger tað torført at sannføra (summi) fólk í ferðavinnuni um, at tað ikki er líka mikið, hvussu Føroyar verða seldar. Selja føroyingar Føroyar “ov bíliga” og fara uppá kompromis við góðskuna bara fyri at fáa tann stuttskygda vinningin, kann hetta koma aftur um brekku seinni og fáa álvarsligar fylgjur. Summi fólk, sum liva av ferðavinnu, eru sjálvandi ‘svong’ – serliga nú í krepputíðum – og hetta kann gera tey fyrilitarleys, so tey ikki hugsa seg nóg væl um, men avleiðingin kann gerast, at tey saga greinina av, tey sjálvi sita á.

Miðvísar heildarætlanir skapa lønsemi
Eg skilji væl ynskið hjá summum um at taka ímóti øllum tí, sum tilvildarliga býður seg her og nú. Fyri tey snýr tað seg kanska bara um at yvirliva. Men skal ferðavinna loysa seg eisini í longdini, má farast hóvliga og skilagott fram. Tað er ikki haldbært bara at líta á tilvildina. Langskygdar heildarætlanir og stuðul til miðvísa marknaðarføring kunnu hjálpa vinnuni at draga ferðafólk til landið, sum ferðavinnan fær meira gagn og vinning av – ikki bara nú, men eisini langa tíð framyvir. Eitt væl tilrættislagt virksemi lønar seg skjótari og er meira støðugt, samstundis sum tað skjótari verður fíggjarliga og umhvørvisliga burðardygt.

Ein munagóð ætlan kundi borið í sær miðvíst arbeiði fyri at spjaða boðskapin um Føroyar sum eitt sermerkt, upprunaligt og umhvørvisliga burðardygt ferðamál kring heimin. Hesin boðskapur er jú í trá við ímyndina av Føroyum sum mest óspilta oyggjasamfelag, sum appellerar júst til ferðafólk, sum virða náttúru og mentan føroyinga, og sum føroysk ferðavinna fær mest burtur úr at fáa hendavegin.

Tað hevur altavgerandi týdning í hesum sambandi at byggja sterk netverk við lyklapersónar kring allan heim – tvs. viðkomandi ferðafyriskiparar og miðlafólk, sum hava áhuga fyri at varpa ljós á serlig ferðamál sum Føroyar. Netverkið er eitt virðismikið amboð, sum hjálpir føroysku ferðavinnuni at appellera til røttu málbólkarnar á munabesta og kostnaðarminsta hátt, og kann eisini gerast hollur ráðgevi fyri ferðavinnuna í Føroyum, tí tað er tætt uppá kundarnar og kennir teirra tørv.

Loysir seg ikki at broyta upprunaleikan
Gløgt er gestsins eyga, sigst. Av tí at útlendska netverkið sær Føroyar uttanífrá, kann tað vísa á , hvat skal til fyri at menna ferðavinnu á ein hátt, sum møtir eftirspurningin frá ferðafólkunum, uttan at føroyska samfelagið missir sín upprunaleika. Almenningurin í Føroyum – vanlig fólk, politikkarar og vinnan sum heild – tykjast ofta ikki at síggja skógina fyri berum trøum og hava lyndi til at vilja broyta føroyska samfelagið til ein standard, sum tey meina, hóskar til eitt altjóða støði, meðan útlendingarnir ofta júst ynskja at uppliva tað sermerkta við Føroyum, sum tey ikki uppliva aðrastaðni. Tey virðismeta kanska tað upprunakenda og ópoleraða meira enn nógvir føroyingar sjálvir gera, tí fyri tey er tað næstan ævintýrakent, tí tað er so nógv øðrvísi, enn tað tey eru von við.

Ferðavinna kann – um skeivt verður atborið – oyðileggja náttúruna, mentanina og upprunaleikan, sum er ein einastandandi kappingarfyrimunur, Føroyar hava í dag, tí tað er tað, sum ger Føroyar øðrvísi enn onnur lond. Men um rætt verður atborið kann vinnan gagnnýta fyrimunin á ein hátt, sum gevur framburð í Føroyum, men eisini styrkir føroyinganna uppruna og integritet sum tjóð – t.d. við at menna tilboð til ferðafólk, sum taka atlit til føroysk serkenni – til vøkru nattúruna, siðvenjuna og serligu mentanina – uttan at tað blívur ‘kunstugt’. Tað er upp til føroyingar at tryggja.

Ferðafólk, sum virðismeta upprunaleika, ynskja nettupp at leggja so nógv sum gjørligt eftir seg, so tað kann brúkast til varðveitslu av tí upprunaliga. So sum t.d. til náttúru- ella tjóðargarðar, sum vísa seg at draga serstakliga nógv ferðafólk. Tá íslendingar fyri nøkrum árum síðani gjørdu Snæfellsjøkull til tjóðargarð t.d., fýrafaldaðist vitjanartalið eftir stuttari tíð!

Hví er ferðavinna í Føroyum ikki størri longu?
Summi undrast: Jamen, um hesar oyggjar eru so fantastiskar, hví er ikki longu ein lønandi ferðavinna í Føroyum? Føroyar eru eitt tað minst “ferðafólkakenda” ferðamálið eftir í heiminum. Hóast Føroyar ikki eru langt burtur frá Evropeiska meginlandinum (bert ein um tveir tímar langan flúgvitúr úr Keypmannahavn ella London), hevur hetta ferðamálið fram til dagin í dag verið hildið at vera eitt sindur ov langt burtur fyri flest fólk, tí oyggjarnar vóru ikki so atkomiligar fyrr í tíðini. Tað hevur loyst seg illa fyri flutningsfyritøkurnar at lata upp nýggjar rutur ella títtari rutur, tí tá bert knøpp 50.000 fólk búgva í landinum, er marknaðurin ov lítil. Flutningsfyritøkurnar hava ikki ráð til tóm setur og at bíða eftir fleiri ferðafólki, so tær lata bara rutur upp, sum kunnu løna seg beinanvegin.

Tað ger tað torførari at byggja upp eina størri ferðavinnu í Føroyum. Hin vegin hevur hetta hjálpt føroyingum at varðveita oyggjarnar óspiltar – til nú í øllum førum. Men tað kann vísa seg framyvir at gerast ein av størstu fyrimununum fyri Føroyar, so sum heimurin sær út beint í løtuni.

Nýggir møguleikar
Fyrr ferðaðust fólk mest suðureftir, har tey kundu sóla sær. Men altjóða rák nú benda á, at “ævintýraferðir” til ókendari støð gerast støðugt betri umtóktar. Fleiri og fleiri ferðast norðureftir fyri at uppliva óspiltu, vøkru náttúruna og áhugaverdu mentaninar, sum finnast har, umframt tí tað er tryggari. Føroyingar eru so hepnir, at teir – framum so nógv onnur – kunnu av røttum halda uppá, at Føroyar eru júst tað – óspilt, upprunakent og trygt. Um føroyingar halda fast í tað, og samstundis brúka tað miðvíst og skilagott í marknaðarføringini av Føroyum, meðan tilboðini til ferðafólkini gagnnýta henda veruleika, kunnu føroyingar helst vænta nógv størri áhuga fyri ferðum til Føroya í framtíðini.

Men fyri at náa so langt, mugu føroyingar sjálvir skilja rákið og gera kravdu íløgurnar í menning og marknaðarføring av Føroyum sum hetta serstaka, óspilta landið. Hetta fara tær næstu greinirnar í hesi greinarøð at snúgva seg um.

Um greinarøðina “Hvussu verða tóm hotelkømur fylt” Hetta er fyrsta greinin av fýra hjá Elini Brimheim Heinesen um, hvussu støðan hjá ferðavinnu í Føroyum møguliga kann fáast at batna.

•  Fyrsta greinin snýr seg um, hví altjóða rákið hóast alt er til gagns fyri Føroyar og um, hvat tað merkir fyri framtíðar ferðavinnumøguleikar í Føroyum.
•  Onnur greinin snýr seg um avbjóðingarnar hjá ferðavinnuni - um, hvat skal til fyri at møta hesum avbjóðingum best, og hvussu tað almenna kann hjálpa vinnuni.
•  Triðja greinin snýr seg um, hví fleiri – bæði almennar og privatar – íløgur mugu til fyri at seta gongd á ferðavinnuna, og hvussu nógv skal til.
•  Fjóðra og síðsta greinin snýr seg um, hví ferðavinnan má standa samhaldfast saman – eisini um sín egna stovn - fyri at gera neyðugar heildarætlanir og gagnnýta gylt høvi best. 

Fá meira at vita:

• National Geographic Traveler kanningin, sum hevur Føroyar sum nummar eitt: http://www.nationalgeographic.com/traveler/features/islandsrated0711/islands.htm
• Sjónbandið: "Where Nature Rules", sum fekk triðju virðisløn í altjóða films kappingini  "Golden City Gate" á ITB ferðasølustevnuni í Berlin 12 Mars 2009: http://www.samvit.fo/media/Where_Nature_Rules_The_Faroe_Islands.wmv 
• Áhugaverd australsk sending  “Foreign Correspondent” um Føroyar: http://www.abc.net.au/foreign/content/2007/faroe_islands_200k.asx . Les um sendingina her: http://www.abc.net.au/foreign/content/2007/s2050734.htm 
• Ein sera væl skrivað grein um Føroyar í New York Times: http://travel.nytimes.com/2007/03/25/travel/tmagazine/03well.faroes.t.html
• Ein ensk podcast-sending um Føroyar, útvarpað hvørja viku á internetinum: http://faroepodcast.blogspot.com/

The Faroe Islands – maybe the most curious place left on earth

Before I made the video "Where Nature Rules" (which won 3rd prize at the international Film Award Ceremony Golden City Gate at ITB in Berlin 12. march 2009) I sketched up some thoughts on what it was I wanted the little film to express. In the film I narrowed the text down quite a lot - but here are the thoughts in full length.

Watch the video "Where Nature Rules" here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nd-vBF2-mIo

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When your brain is overloaded. When you’re tired of noisy traffic. When you’re sick of heavily polluted air. When you’ve had enough of stressed out people everywhere around you. When you’re plagued by mosquitoes and a merciless sun. When you can’t stand being constantly sweaty and uncomfortable all the time. When you really need to breathe freely. When your only wish is to come to your senses and feel alive and grounded again.

Think of the Faroe Islands as the Land of Space... with an abundance of invigorating fresh air. Like coming home to a cool paradise with space to stretch your mind and body. To the Shangri-La of the north. To freedom.

Imagine a Land of Secrets. A little country hidden away from the rest of the world, where people have been living a simple life for centuries, almost in secrecy. But now – while technology makes the world smaller – the secret is about to be discovered. Imagine a group of magical mystical islands out there in the cool misty ocean, rising steeply, almost a thousand meters from the sea and up above the clouds.

Imagine that behind the steep dramatic cliffs you’ll find narrow fjords, sounds and green valleys with small, colorful cozy villages. Imagine this place never too hot – and never freezing cold. Always fresh. A mild and gentle country with mild and gentle people living in it.

Imagine this tranquil, peaceful, safe place to be - while on the other hand dramatic and challenging. One moment the weather is wild and roaring and the next beautiful and kind - colouring the landscape in a palette of colours you didn’t know even existed.


Imagine this place where the air is constantly changing between misty or rainy and crystal clear –– one minute boisterous and violent and the next dead calm. One moment nature barks fiercely at you – the next it hugs you gently and lovingly.


Imagine winds that at times in winter can reach velocities up to 60-80 meters per second creating huge waves that plunge into the cliffs sending explosions of foam sometimes hundreds of meters up in the air. Imaging riding these huge waves on a surf board.


Imagine a place where water is everywhere in some form or another. The sea is almost always in sight – when not hidden in fog – and on land endless rows of waterfalls flow pretty much everywhere down the mountainsides. Sometimes even upwards, depending on wind speed and wind direction.

Imagine one of the wettest and wildest countries on earth - the very place the weather gods chose to be their playground. A place where you can experience all seasons in one day. A challenging place where you’re never allowed to forget that nature is in control.


Imagine a place where you have to let go of control. Anticipate nothing but surprises. Imagine the thrill never really to know when to do what because it’s more up to nature’s mood than up to you. Storms or fog might always come in the way – sometimes for days – and you will simply not survive if you don’t adjust to nature.

Imagine how it trains your ability to be patient and to be fully aware of the instant – whatever it might bring. Just being present in this world here and now because you need to be prepared for the unpredictable – always.

Imagine this Land of Brooks and Waterfalls – a place where nature rules – not people. You can do nothing else but surrender. But if you’re patient nature will reward you with magnificent gifts and pleasant surprises when you least expect it – like beautiful sunny days.

Imagine standing on the highest point on these islands when the air is crystal clear and the valleys and the fjords under you are filled with milky, fluffy mist. Imagine the vastness above, under and around you – like standing on top of the whole world. Imagine being able to see the longest anywhere in the whole world…. endless rows of mountaintops to one side and to the other the never-ending ocean… and there - far, far away 500 km to the northwest - the top of a glacier rise just above the horizon – Vatnajøkull in Iceland which under certain circumstances according to Guinness Book of Records can be seen from the top of the highest mountain in the Faroes - Slættaratindur. Imagine how small and humble and thankful for being alive this view would make you feel.

Imagine a Land of Contradictions – a group of islands which in themselves are a contradiction. They shouldn’t even be there – it’s a miracle that they’re still standing. The mere presence of these wind-swept rocky cliffs is like an insisting vertical protest against the vast horizontal flatness of the ocean that surrounds them.

Imagine how fiercely these islands must have fought for millions of years with the forces of the mighty ocean. Imagine this everlasting battle that created the highest vertical sea cliffs in the whole world.

Imagine this archipelago – so tiny, and yet so strong and breathtakingly majestic. Vastness and closeness in one. So far away and yet just round the corner thanks to modern transportation. In the middle of nowhere in a huge ocean, and yet in the middle of everything right in the busy sea lane between two of the wealthiest continents in the world.

Imagine going to this Land of Nowhere – on the one hand perfect for stillness and meditation, and on the other hand, when you’re tired of sitting still, you can go surfing, boat racing, porbeagle shark fishing, rappelling, exploring caves, hiking pilgrimage trails, driving Harleys or go sightseeing from boats or helicopters to some of the most dramatic cliffs in the world.

Imagine finding a safe haven – a hideaway where you can escape from a stressed and overcrowded world and find that Land of Comfort you long for, far from a civilization gone mad, but not too far away. Just 1-2 hours’ flight from some of the big cities in Northern Europe – like Copenhagen and London. Imagine finding peace and tranquility like nowhere else in the world in this place where people still trust each other – actually the most crime-free place on earth according to statistics.

Imagine being able to combine all the comforts of civilization with the sense of being back in the past when the air was not polluted and the water still fresh. Imagine being able to feel what pure wild nature is all about – and at the same time be able to enjoy all the qualities of modern life.

Imagine a cozy colorful town where you can stroll in a shopping centre in the morning. Go hiking, sailing or fishing in the vicinity of the town in the afternoon. Sit in a café or a restaurant enjoying a good meal or a drink in the evening. And stroll by the sea in the light summer night, go to a rock concert or go dancing in a night club with fun people all night long. Doing pretty much the same as most people enjoy doing everywhere else – but in a unique Faroese way. Imagine one of the most modern countries in the world – yet ancient and pristine at the same time. Convivial and familiar - and yet so peculiar and mysterious.

Imagine a Land of Inspiration – a little country with only around 50.000 inhabitants, but still a whole country – a micro cosmos with everything a modern society requires. Now you can – more easily than ever – go to these fairy islands and experience how life unfolds here - the sea, the air, the birds, the sheep, the people, the music, the language, only spoken by about 70.000 people in the whole wide world... and so much more to discover. Imagine finding a whole world of surprises here. A rich culture with an amazing variety to offer.

Imagine a place that sings. A little fairyland riddled with all kinds of music where almost every single village has its own choir. Where the main town even has its own symphony orchestra of high quality which most people would consider impossible for a town with only 20.000 people. Imagine skilful locals playing, singing and dancing traditional folk ballads, jazz, classical, punk, rock, electronica…. you name it. The diversity is astonishing.

Imagine a certain vibrant energy to this place that inspires and boosts creativity – with a light and colours so special and a peace that touches your soul in such a way that many visiting painters, musicians, poets and other artists fall in love with it instantly and feel the urge to come back year after year – or even to live here permanently - just to be inspired.

Imagine a Land of Authenticity – a place where tourism has not become a big industry yet, so people are not yet tired of tourists. They still can afford to welcome each and everyone with heartfelt kindness and openness because the number of foreigners is still relatively small.

But… for how long will it remain so? It might be just a question of time before more and more people in the outside world will be aware of this hidden gem. It’s there now for people to experience. So when you feel overloaded. When the complexity of the modern world overwhelms you…

When you want to be safe from the restlessness in the rest of the world. When you dream of a simpler life in close contact with nature – but in a comfortable modern way. When you want it all – just in a much smaller scale. Remember then this almost secret place out there in the ocean, not too far away, that not many other people visit – nor have even heard of. Here you will find the simplicity and the safety you’re searching for.

It’s not a fairy tale. It exists. And it’s called the Faroe Islands – maybe the most curious place left on earth.

Elin Brimheim Heinesen, 2009

The photographs (by Janus Hansen, Ólavur Frederiksen, Daniele Photography and Yazzy Ouhilal) are the same as the ones I used in the video "Where Nature Rules".

Humans are like toilets!

I believe that humans are very much like toilets. People have to take so much shit.

Your feelings are like the water in the cistern. You need water to flush the shit out continuously, or else the shit will pile up inside you.

If too much time goes by and you don’t flush, the shit becomes too hard and stays where it is even if you try to flush. And then you need help to dig it out and get the flushing to work again…

The moral is: You cannot avoid taking shit but don't hold it in! Remember to flush it right away!

In other words: Do not hold your feelings inside. You need to cry. You need to laugh. Or else you’ll end up full of shit!

;-)

The Faroe Islands – an Adventurous Hideaway

By Elin Brimheim Heinesen, Former Managing Director of SamVit, the Faroese Tourist Board and Trade Council

Do you want to step aside from your usual routines, slow down and get away from a world that spins faster and faster? Do you want to trigger your imagination and creativity? Do you want to travel to the perfect place for coming to your senses and feeling alive? Then – go to the Faroe Islands!

According to National Geographic Traveler, the Faroe Islands are the most unspoilt islands in the world. Elin Heinesen, the managing director of the Faroese Tourist Board and Trade Council, reflects on future tourism development in the Faroe Islands.

What others say about us
When one of the worlds leading experts in nation branding, Simon Anholt, was asked by an editor from Bradt Travel Guides to contribute to a Travel Guide to Shangri La, a place of fiction, he said: “I consider the Faroe Islands to be the Shangri La of the 21st century!” It is not unusual to hear statements like this and like the one journalist Eric Campbell from the Australian TV-show ‘Foreign Correspondent’ said: “Remote and intriguing, they look like something out of a Norse fairy tale.” He also said: “The Faroe Islands could very well be the world’s next country!”. In a New York Times article in 2007 with the headline: “Into the Mystical Unreal Reality of the Faroe Islands”, the Faroe Islands were described as “the most curious place left on earth” and the journalist Stephen Metcalf described his impression such: “The Faroes are easily the most moodily beautiful place I have ever been”. Other expressions often heard are: “otherworldly” or “the Lord of the Rings Country” or even “the Grand Canyon of the North Atlantic”.

Rated best islands in the world
Although the Faroe Islands obviously are astonishingly beautiful to many, we still do not see our country included in too many travel catalogues. This is probably all about to change now that the Faroe Islands were rated in the National Geographic Traveler as the best and most appealing island destination out of a shortlist of 111 island communities in the world – ahead of the Azores, Bahamas, Hawaii, Iceland and a lot of other fantastic islands – something that has given the Faroe Islands priceless publicity. The result was reached by a panel of 522 travel experts in November 2007. Another survey will not take place for many years to come so we still hold the position. (Seehttp://www.nationalgeographic.com/traveler/features/islandsrated0711/islands.html)

Our goal: an eco-friendly sustainable tourism industry
At the Faroese Tourist Board we are definitely not interested in mass-tourism, though. We would rather attract appropriate amounts of money-spending people that want the perfect hideaway. It is our hope that our tourism industry will develop into a profitable, and at the same time sustainable, eco-friendly industry that does not destroy the wonderful nature and culture of these islands, but rather helps us preserve what we love the most. This is a very small country with a very small population and very limited economic resources; that is the main reason why we are not very well known yet. We do, however, have very rich natural and cultural resources.

Dangers we might face
Even if we have, you might say, challenging weather, we should not underestimate our attraction potential. I myself – as well as many people outside of the Faroes – think that the Faroe Islands have tremendous tourism potential, but the islands could also be very vulnerable to tourism overkill. We might ruin our chances of realising this great potential if we start to sell out too much too soon. That is why we should try our utmost to avoid mistakes, because the mistakes we make today could very quickly lead us to lose the very qualities that make us so special and attractive right now.

What's the attraction?
To once again illustrate the attraction of these islands and why I think that the number of tourists here in the Faroes might increase significantly in the future – here is how a group of surfers describe the Faroes: “Deserted beaches. Stunning scenery. Perfect waves. This is every surfers dream… Two years ago a group of surfers travelled north to the Faroe Islands. What they discovered stunned them: hundreds of miles of pristine, unexplored coastline; eighteen-hour-long surf days; a consistent flow of waves pushing in from the arctic. The stunning photographs Ouhilal returned with showed the Faroes as a kind of Hawaiian paradise in reverse where sand beaches were replaced by verdant grass, resort hotels were replaced by hundred-year-old cottages, and the only crowds were those of grazing sheep.”

Carelessness could destroy us
This is all good – and surfers might not be the worst tourists to attract. However, if influential audiences like surfers have become aware of our unique qualities, I’m sure others will notice us too. The buzz may be starting and we could soon see the beginnings of something resembling an invasion – not only of surfers, but others too. We don’t know for sure, but the present situation could change – even dramatically, like it did in Iceland some years ago.

Tourism is not a very lucrative industry in the Faroes yet. This makes it difficult to convince people in the tourism industry that we must be cautious. I’m afraid some people might be prepared to sell out to attract just anyone to achieve short-term profits. But this could backfire seriously in the long run. People are, of course, ‘hungry’ with the threat of an economic crisis hanging over their heads and this could make them careless.

Long term strategy
While I understand the urge and desire from some sections of the tourism industry, I believe we must take the necessary time to prepare, to make sure that we are doing the right things.
We at SamVit are trying to help the tourism industry in making long term strategies that will help people in the business attract the right tourists, so they can build businesses that are both lucrative and economically and environmentally sustainable. We are trying to spread the word by building strong networks with key persons all over the world – mostly tour operators and people from the media – that could help us as advisers and collaborators and help us appeal to and attract the right tourists. Tourism is, after all, the second largest industry in the Faroes even if it only accounts for 4% of the GDP; so we are also hoping that these people can help us in our efforts to get the public in the Faroes – ordinary people, politicians and the industry – to understand how important it is develop tourism in the wisest and most responsible way possible.

How do we preserve our best qualities?
We need to be aware of the advantages and disadvantages of different kinds of tourism – the sooner the better. And we must do what we can to build up the most appropriate and stable form of tourism, develop the appropriate offers and attract not just any tourists, but the right tourists. By that I mean tourists who really appreciate our special qualities – our beautiful nature, our traditions and our distinctive culture – and are willing to spend their money here which we could invest in preserving our best attractions. We need to make sure that tourism will not take away from us the unique qualities we have right now, but instead add to what we already have in a way that helps us prosper while strengthening our best qualities and our integrity as a people.

Why isn't tourism in the Faroes big already?
You might ask: But if these islands are so wonderful - why isn’t there a lucrative tourism industry here already? The Faroe Islands are actually one of the least ‘touristy’ destinations left on earth. Although the Faroe Islands are not far from the European mainland (just a 2-hour flight from Copenhagen or London), this destination has until now been considered a little too remote for most people because the islands were not very accessible in the past. It is risky business for the transportation companies to open new or more frequent routes because so few live on the islands (only around 50,000). They cannot afford to wait for customers and so therefore only routes that are able to turn over a profit quickly are likely to be kept open. That has made it difficult to build up a more extensive tourism industry. This has, on the other hand, helped us keep our islands unspoiled – until now at least. And this might just turn out to be our best advantage, as it is.

New opportunities
Most travellers have also, until this day, mostly preferred to travel to places in the south, where they can lounge in the sun – but global travel trends now indicate that adventure travel is becoming increasingly popular. More and more people also want to travel up north to experience the beautiful and unspoiled nature and interesting culture that can be found there. People also travel further than they ever did before. It is also possible for us today, with new communication channels like the internet, to reach audiences we could not reach before. That means that our islands have suddenly become much more visible and interesting as a travel destination. And boy do we have nature and culture here that is worth travelling far for!

The perfect destination for adventurers
Now that the Faroe Islands have been discovered by the National Geographic Traveler and by surfers and others alike – and now that the islands have become more accessible than they ever were before – we can expect to see a lot more interest from travellers, especially if we use the right momentums and are effective in our marketing. There is great potential in attracting adventurous travellers interested in unspoilt authentic destinations right now – and fortunately, that is exactly what the Faroe Islands genuinely are.


Get an impression
See the National Geographic survey that placed the Faroes as the No. 1 Island Destination in the world: http://www.nationalgeographic.com/traveler/features/islandsrated0711/islands.html

See the video presentation: "Where Nature Rules" which was awarded 3rd prize in the international film competition "Golden City Gate" at the ITB Tourist Fair in Berlin 12 March 2009:
http://www.samvit.fo/media/Where_Nature_Rules_The_Faroe_Islands.wmv

See a very interesting Australian TV programme “Foreign Correspondent” about the Faroe Islands:http://www.abc.net.au/foreign/content/2007/faroe_islands_200k.asx . Read the synopsis here:http://www.abc.net.au/foreign/content/2007/s2050734.htm .

Read a very well-written article about the Faroe Islands in the New York Times here:http://travel.nytimes.com/2007/03/25/travel/tmagazine/03well.faroes.t.html