Study trip to Svalbard

What do you know about Svalbard? Is it true that it’s dark 24 hours a day for four months during the polar night? And do polar bears really roam the streets of Longyearbyen?

In October, 14 people from our team visited Svalbard to deepen our knowledge of this unique archipelago.

Our study trip to Svalbard aimed to increase our understanding of Svalbard, allowing us to provide even better information to our guests, feel more secure about polar bear safety, and improve our ability to care for the vulnerable nature. Our goal is to leave minimal traces and convey the importance of this to those sailing with us.

Our Goal was to Increase Our Knowledge of Svalbard

Our study trip to Svalbard aimed to increase our understanding of Svalbard, allowing us to provide even better information to our guests, feel more secure about polar bear safety, and improve our ability to care for the vulnerable nature. Our goal is to leave minimal traces and convey the importance of this to those sailing with us.

Our visit to Visit Svalbard provided valuable insights, where the head of tourism, Ronny Brunvold, discussed the challenging aspects of running tourism in Svalbard. It all balances between the demands of the governor, political considerations, and economic operational factors.

We also met the Governor, the supreme authority for the entire archipelago. With many rules and guidelines to adhere to regarding polar bears, safety, laws, and regulations, cooperation with local actors in Longyearbyen is crucial to offer a safe product.

Highlights of the Study Trip

During the study trip, each participant was assigned a topic to present at the closing dinner. There were 14 engaging presentations that we look forward to sharing with you!

Here are some highlights of what we learned:

Cultural Heritage

Svalbard is rich in history, and everywhere you can find traces of exploration, hunting, and coal mining from both passersby and residents. All cultural monuments before 1946 are automatically protected, from rusty nails to bone remnants of whales. Cultural monuments cannot be moved or taken home!

Wildlife

The polar bear is the star of Svalbard, but there are also many other fascinating animals thriving in this icy desert. Walruses, seals, whales, arctic foxes, Svalbard reindeer, seabirds, and much more.

Svalbard Rules of Conduct

“The invisible tourist cannot exist, but we prefer that you try,” says the Svalbard Tourism Board and the Governor, who have jointly developed rules and guidelines to protect the fragile nature in the Arctic. These are in place to protect nature, cultural monuments, and your own safety when visiting Svalbard.

Polar Bear Safety

We received thorough training at the shooting range, focusing on polar bear safety and shooting exercises. This was done in collaboration with an experienced partner.

Mining History

The community in Svalbard emerged due to mining. We had a fascinating tour of Mine 3, explored inside the mines, heard exciting stories, and learned a lot about the history of coal mining.

Mining on Svalbard began in the early 1900s, primarily for coal mining. Over time, several mining communities were established. This influenced the settlements, and life in the mining communities was characterized by challenging working conditions, extreme climates, and significant isolation. In the 1990s, several mines closed due to economic challenges and changing market conditions, gradually diversifying the archipelago’s economy. Today, only Mine 7 is still in operation, but it is scheduled to close in 2025, aiming to transition to green energy.

An Evening with a Local Family

A special evening was when we were invited to the home of a local family, the Rossi family, for pizza and a lecture. It was a highlight to hear about life as a family with small children in Svalbard and their experiences with nature and housing challenges.

Maria gave a lecture, Øyvind made 14 pizzas (!), and Fredrik, who just started first grade, told us about his reindeer hunting experience at school! In this small Arctic outpost, they start early!

We also used our time in Longyearbyen to explore the local community, wildlife, flora, fauna, and to get to know Visit Svalbard and the Governor better.