For six weeks, a TV crew from the BBC filmed the Nusfjord Arctic Hotel in Lofoten. The popular travel program “Amazing Hotels: Life Beyond the Lobby” has close to 10 million viewers and is broadcast in 150 countries. – It is absolutely incredible and completely unique. But it is confirmation that we have achieved something authentic, exciting and different when the BBC thinks that this is one of the world’s most “amazing hotels”, says billionaire and property investor Carl Erik Krefting. Wanted to fence in Nusfjord It didn’t go completely smoothly when the investor bought one of Norway’s oldest and best-preserved fishing villages on Flakstadøya in 2016. Visitors come here to Nusfjord in droves. From the whole world. Summer as winter. Photo: Nusfjord Arctic Resort Fishing has been carried on here since the mid-1800s and the characteristic red rudders are close together. The new owners first wanted to put up a one and a half meter high fence, which would block the entrance in the summer, and people would have to pay to get in. The plans caused several of the 20 permanent residents to see red, and were shelved. The Krefting family has spent the last few years refurbishing the old rowboats and turning it into a popular hotel. Nusfjord is one of Norway’s oldest and best preserved fishing villages. Photo: Nusfjord Arctic Resort – Very proud news has previously told that Nusfjord is visited daily by 50 busloads of tourists in the summer. Now the fishing village with 20 permanent residents can be seen by 10 million people from all over the world. The hotels that were shown in the previous season of the program were fully booked for a long time to come. – We are very proud. We hope that others will also be proud, says Caroline Brun-Lie Krefting. – It is incredibly fun that the BBC comes to Norway at all, and that they also choose to go to such a tiny place as Nusfjord, says Caroline Brun-Lie Krefting. Here with Carl Erik Krefting, and Monica from the BBC. Photo: BBC Studios She says that they are very keen to appease Nusfjord’s history. – It is one of the things that we think has been the most fun, she says. When the Krefting family bought the facility, five of the seven listed buildings in Lofoten were located on the property. Carl Erik Krefting describes the hotel as a living museum of coastal culture and the fishing that has been done in Lofoten for more than 1,000 years. The centuries-old village of Nusfjord is a favorite destination for tourists in summer. Photo: Nusfjord Arctic Resort The program will be broadcast on the BBC next Sunday in prime time. – A natural consequence will be that more people will visit Lofoten, but also Norway, he believes. Hikers create “big wounds in the landscape”: – Looks like a motorway But will nature withstand the pressure? But if Lofoten gets more visitors, it will put even greater pressure on the already vulnerable nature, according to biologist Tom-Henrik Hasselberg. Research shows that a steady increase in human faeces in nature contributes to contaminating the drinking water in the area. Hikers also make big wounds in the landscape, and several have sounded the alarm about natural gems that are threatened by wear and tear. – Tents were set up in places where tents had not been set up before. People go to places where not so many people have gone before. This creates a new type of wear and tear, explains biologist Tom-Henrik Hasselberg. Hikers create “big wounds in the landscape”: – Looks like a motorway Hasselberg is worried about the development. – Mass traffic causes major wounds in nature, and affects the species composition. It is worrying, says biologist Tom-Henrik Hasselberg. Monica Galetti and Robert Rinder from the BBC. Photo: BBC Studios He explains that the consequences can be great if nature is not protected. For example, this can lead to more rockfalls, it disturbs wildlife and wear and tear on nature increases. All this affects the ecosystem negatively. It can also be negative for the local population, says Hasselberg. – One consequence could be that permanent residents in Lofoten lose access to the local environment because it is being privatized for tourists. Carl Erik Krefting says they made a conscious choice to invest in the BBC in February and March precisely to hit a period with significantly lower visits to Lofoten. – We hope and believe that this can provide good breeding grounds for year-round operations for businesses in Lofoten and boost winter tourism in Norway in general. Judy and Bill are happy to pay tourist tax for toilets: – Looking for a bush now Betting on year-round tourism Those involved in tourism in the island kingdom are happy about the BBC programme. – Lofoten is a small community that takes care of its surroundings and lives in balance with its surroundings. I think this is very positive. That’s what tourism manager at Destination Lofoten, Line Renate Samuelsen, says. Samuelsen believes that the episode can contribute to more people seeing Lofoten as an attractive travel destination in the winter months as well. The tourism manager says that they are working towards making Lofoten a year-round destination, which the series will probably contribute to. Photo: Malin Nygård Solberg / news – We need to build a destination for year-round tourism where we have permanent jobs all year round so that we can actively welcome tourists in the winter. The tourism industry and the municipalities therefore worked for a visitor contribution to finance these kinds of challenges. Furthermore, Samuelsen believes that the visitor contribution, which will be in place during the year, will help to strengthen the work with toilet facilities and rubbish removal. – When we market Lofoten, we do not only market to attract guests. We want and get responsible guests. And therefore tries to organize the marketing in a responsible way. There are only around 20 permanent residents in Nusfjord. After the BBC program they will surely get more visitors. Photo: Nusfjord Arctic Resort
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Nusfjord Arctic Resort in Lofoten is featured in a well-known BBC program – news Nordland
