A new journey advisory for Iceland is issued | International Market Information
Seeing a important spike in reputation amongst vacationers over the previous decade, the Nordic nation of Iceland attracts adventure-seeking guests with natural phenomena corresponding to fjords, the Northern Lights and the well-known Blue Lagoon geothermal spa.On account of its small population and distant geography, Iceland can be thought-about among the many world’s most secure international locations to go to. The U.S. State Division charges it “take normal precautions,” meaning the country is just as safe or safer to visit than America is.⏰ Get expert insights and actionable trade alerts from veteran investing experts and hedge fund managers. Join TheStreet Pro today and get first month FREE 💸While the country’s crime rate is still among the lowest in the world, the Icelandic Tourism Agency has put out a new warning about a recent string of pickpockets targeting foreigners at popular sites.Incidents have been on the increase particularly in Thingvellir National Park (spelled Þingvellir in Icelandic). The historic site and national park is located east of the capital, Reykjavik, and is known worldwide for its unique geological formations caused by tectonic shift over thousands of years.Related: Domino effect: A tourist tax is coming to another country many want to visitGroup targets tourists at Iceland park, elsewhereIn a Facebook post park authorities described a late February incident in which a group of pickpockets tried to surround a park visitor, who was able to fend them off by waving her hands and making noise. A few days later, the same group, several men and women, was spotted targeting tourists in the Almannagjá and Hakið areas. They tried to drive away and were stopped by police.”Nearer investigation has revealed that the band arrived at Þingvellir on the identical time each morning for 5 consecutive days, after which after raiding Þingvellir they headed additional east on the Golden Circle to Geysir and Gullfoss to pillage from vacationers,” Thingvellir authorities described.
Iceland is home to quite a few world-famous national parks.Shutterstock
‘Half of a structured felony enterprise’Native park rangers have additionally been drawing consideration to the issue and the strategy the thieves make use of. The pickpockets will sometimes be part of a massive group gathered round fashionable sights just like the Strokkur geyser and rummage by means of baggage whereas their victims are rotated and distracted by the sights.Extra on journey:
“This is a highly organized operation and clearly part of a structured criminal enterprise,” Garðar Már Garðarsson, chief superintendent of the South Iceland Police, mentioned in a assertion on the scenario. “We suspect that around 10 people are actively involved in these thefts.”Pickpocketing has historically been more of a hazard in bigger European capitals, corresponding to Paris and Rome. However because the numbers of guests to Iceland have spiked, each native and overseas criminals have been seizing alternatives at fashionable locations like Thingvellir and Blue Lagoon.With a native population of slightly below 400,000, Iceland noticed more than 2.3 million worldwide arrivals within the nation in 2024. To mitigate some of the environmental impression on distant natural parks, the Icelandic authorities in January 2024 launched a sustainability tax added to stays in resort and trip rental properties.”Most of our guests visit our unspoiled nature and obviously that creates a pressure,” mentioned Katrin Jakobsdóttir, who then was the nation’s prime minister and addressed the new charge.Associated: Veteran fund supervisor points dire S&P 500 warning for 2025
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