19 March 2024
Hot Springs, Photos and stories of how the world soaks, swims and slows down releases on Tuesday, 19 March 2024. Hot Springs is a book written by American photojournalist, Greta Rybus, that profiles 23 different hot springs around the world. South Greenland’s own Uunartoq is amongst the featured, to the great pride and joy of Visit South Greenland, the tourism department at the regional business development company, Innovation South Greenland (ISG).
“It is unbelievable to see Uunartoq in this gorgeous book alongside so many other amazing and well known hot springs destinations like India, Japan and Bolivia. The best thing is knowing how much time and energy the author put into understanding what Uunartoq means for the local community, also in a historical perspective. The book is not at all a top ten list just to get people to travel here. On the contrary, the book is an incredibly well-made homage to a natural phenomenon that should be appreciated, protected and respected,” says Sarah Woodall, Tourism Destination Manager at ISG.
ISG cooperates closely with international media
Greenland has become a known adventure destination, so it is completely normal for ISG to receive handfuls of inquiries from international media looking for sponsorships for press trips in South Greenland. As the regional destination management organisation, one of ISG’s primary tasks is to market and advertise South Greenland as a unique destination. One of the ways ISG achieves this is through close cooperation with both Greenlandic photographers and videographers as well as international media that have a huge network not to mention reputation and street credit.
Such is the way the communication started with Greta Rybus, but South Greenland’s Tourism Destination Manager realised immediately that Rybus was out of the ordinary and the cooperation with her surpassed all expectations.
”Greta Rybus was very special. Within minutes of arriving to Uunartoq Island she spotted a little white plant – yarrow (Achillea millefolium). She knew exactly what it was and how it can be used medicinally for cuts. At that moment I could see that Greta had a deep natural respect for the environment as well as communities, that live intertwined with nature. And already then I could see that she was perfect for Greenland,” says Sarah Woodall.
Worth the wait
Even though Greta Rybus’ press trip took place all the way back in September 2021, ISG couldn’t shout its pride to the world until November last year, when the editorial process was finally finished.
“It was definitely hard to keep the secret, but once the book was finally a real and true reality that one could hold in their hands, it was clear it was worth the wait! When I thought about how we could best help spread the word, I thought, ‘Let’s do this in style!’” says Sarah Woodall.
ISG hired Arina Kleist, owner of local content creation company, Snow Falcon Media, and they took off together to Uunartoq and the nearby settlement of Alluitsup Paa to produce a few short video in connection with the book release. It is more of a short documentary with the owners of Seaside Whale Hotel, located just around the corner from Uunartoq, about what it means for tourism development that Uunartoq has gotten this type of visibility.
Watch the video with Seaside Whale Hotel HERE.
Sustainable tourism development on Uunartoq Island
”I think it’s a great step that, starting this year, there will be a 50 DKK per person fee for cruise ships, that call at Uunartoq. It creates income that can finance simple yet necessary infrastructure projects, that will protect the island’s cultural heritage and nature. I also think it’s a good step that the discussions have begun regarding maritime and terrestrial zoning that can support stricter regulations in the future about who can utilise Uunartoq, and where and when” says Sarah Woodall.
The next step will be creating an official development plan for Uunartoq, but there is a whole host of local stakeholders, that should be involved, including: the municipality of Kommune Kujalleq, ISG’s tourism department, the Department for Business and Department for Environment within the Government of Greenland, the Greenland National Museum & Archive and the private business sector from the entire region.
Hot Springs will create interest in South Greenland and the hot springs amongst travellers, but it can also be a catalyst for creating more awareness here at home – about why Uunartoq is special for the country and the world, and about why it’s imperative to ensure tourism on the island is done in a sustainable way based on principles of cultural sensitivity, environmental protection and local anchoring.
