Lofoten shows itself from its very best side at the beginning of July. The number of tourists has already been high, something they have also noticed at Ramberg in Flakstad municipality. Although tourism brings a lot of good with it, it also has its less pleasant sides. – Today I discovered once again that it is tourists or visitors who use my garden as a toilet. They poop, both poop and pee. It is not only in my garden, but with neighbors as well, says Lorentzen. Lorentzen has a garden that extends up the slope along the main access road to Kai Odd Lorentzen has the main access road E10 as the nearest neighbor. Now he is tired of people making fun of him in his garden. Photo: Andreas Nilsen Trygstad / news Lofoten, E10. Between two vines of Lorentzen’s currant bushes, a needy tourist has done away with himself during the day. – It is not adapted to all the tourism that is in Lofoten at the moment, he believes. – What thoughts do you have when you find this among the bushes that will give currants in the autumn? – I do not really want to pick that currant. Then I also had to lay down strawberry land. I lose my appetite when I do not know what they are doing while I am at work. It’s pretty depressing. When news visited Kai Odd in Lofoten, new remains had appeared between the berry bushes during the day. Photo: Andreas Nilsen Trygstad / news Just a stone ‘s throw below Lorentzen’s house is one of several public toilets that have been set up, but the doors are locked. – The municipality says that they are waiting for two parts and a plumber who will install a relay they are missing. It has been almost ready for use for 14 days without anything else happening. news experiences that during Friday, one of the two toilets opened its doors. Mayor: – Totally unsustainable Mayor Trond Kroken (Sp) in Flakstad municipality says that they notice that the tourist season has started earlier. It also increases the need for toilets in Lofoten. – There are a lot of tourists and it looks like this could be a good year for the tourism industry. This means that there will be increased pressure on the facilities, he says. The Norwegian Public Roads Administration has set up a temporary toilet pending the renovation of one of the other public toilets. – We have reached an agreement now, and I think that toilet will relieve the problems that have been with people going to people’s gardens. It is totally unsustainable for us who live here. Want a permanent tourist toilet in the municipality The mayor says that there are still challenges associated with the toilets. Many of the tourists in Lofoten come along the roads, either by car or bus. At one of the largest campsites in the municipality, the Norwegian Public Roads Administration is now working on rebuilding a toilet facility at Flakstad beach, the work is expected to be completed later this year. Until then, the Public Roads Administration has put in place a temporary toilet to relieve. – We demanded to set up a toilet and we agreed to put it at the lookout point on Ramberg. The mayor says that they have asked for a toilet that is larger and nicer that will be on a permanent basis. Very simplified rules for a trip: EVERYTHING you take with you on a trip you must take home again. No exceptions. Understand what you are allowed to do or not. Do you walk in a protected area? Bonfires are cozy, but it is not allowed all year round. From April 15 to September 15, there is a general fire ban. If you are going to make a fire anyway, be careful and do it in a considerate and responsible way. Many people think that one can throw organic material is ok. Error! Your apple carcass stays in place for 2 months before it decomposes. Take it back with you. Do you have to poop in the woods or in the mountains? Get away from people, trails and roads. Dig a hole and do what you have to. You take paper with you in a bag. Even if your hammock can withstand the weight, the trees may not. Be sure to use wide straps and find a strong tree. Are you going to establish a campsite and move on branches and rocks? Put it back. Restraint is not something we have because the authorities dislike dogs. Use tape. We are visiting nature on nature’s premises. Behave as you are visiting. Source: DNT Wants to introduce “tolls” for tourists The so-called “tourist tax” was brought up again after the government in the Hurdal platform spoke out in favor of launching pilot projects. Lofoten wants to be part of the government’s pilot project, together with the world heritage site West Norwegian Fjord Landscape. The latter consists of the Geirangerfjord and the Nærøyfjord area. The Ministry of Trade and Industry will decide in the autumn which regions will be pilots for visitor grants aimed at tourists. – We are happy that the wheels are running, and we hope for a clarification soon so that we can “fine-tune” the scheme towards Lofoten. Samuelsen hopes that a visitor contribution can help to influence and change attitudes among those who visit Lofoten. Tourism manager Line Samuelsen in Destination Lofoten hopes that Lofoten will be selected for a pilot project on visitor contributions this autumn. Photo: Private – When you get started, I think this will be positively received. You will see that you manage to move people away from Kai Odd’s currant bush. It is important that you get an infrastructure that is sensible in relation to the visitor flows we have in Lofoten, she says. The Flakstad mayor agrees that what he calls a visitor contribution can be the way to go. – Politically it is in unison, there is a desire to achieve something. We have worked a lot with it the last two years. I believe it will come soon.
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Tourists in Lofoten leave feces in people’s gardens this summer – news Nordland
