The Faroe Islands will be closed to tourists in 2020, but don’t worry — it’s only for two days. The Denmark-owned archipelago between Norway and Iceland will still be open for flights and hotel stays, but 14 of its most-visited spots will be closed to the public. That is, unless you’re a volunteer. According to a notice on its tourism website, the Faroe Islands will be “closed for maintenance, open for voluntourism” on April 16 and 17.
Photo: Nick Fox/Shutterstock
The Faroe Islands Will Close to Tourists for Two Days in 2020
Photo: Visit Faroe Islands/Facebook
During those two days, 100 selected volunteers from around the world will be working on maintenance projects at 14 sites around the islands. The job will include creating walking paths, building viewpoints, setting up signage, and the like. Volunteers will be provided with accommodation in local villages, food shared with the residents, and transportation during the maintenance period.
Photo: Visit Faroe Islands/Facebook
This is the second year in a row that this project has been organized — 2019 was such a success that the Faroe Islands’ tourism bureau decided to roll it out again in 2020.
Although the Faroe Islands only have a population of around 50,000, annual tourism is nearly double that figure, which puts a heavy strain on the island’s infrastructure.
Applications to participate in the volunteer program closed on November 14 — the 100 spaces available were snatched up quickly — but you can still subscribe for notifications about the 2021 initiative. 