Seve­ral mee­tings have taken place in Lon­gye­ar­by­en this week with repre­sen­ta­ti­ves of the tou­rism indus­try, the Sys­sel­man­nen and other aut­ho­ri­ties to dis­cuss opti­ons for a careful ope­ning of tou­rism, upon which many jobs depend.

A cen­tral task is crea­ting a plan with hygie­ne- and other prac­ti­cal mea­su­res that ensu­re a safe and healt­hy prac­ti­ce for tra­vel­ling. Such a plan is now work in pro­cess.

Sys­sel­man­nen Kjers­tin Askholt empha­si­zes that a quick and com­ple­te restart will not hap­pen. The idea is a careful and step-wise approach of a nor­mal situa­ti­on. Public health and safe­ty, with the limi­t­ed emer­gen­cy and health ser­vices in mind, will have prio­ri­ty.

All invol­ved seek a date to start first acti­vi­ties to give the com­pa­nies a basis for plan­ning. Such a date is not known at this time.

Hos­pi­tal in Lon­gye­ar­by­en: Capa­ci­ties are limi­t­ed and the next big hos­pi­tal far away.

It is unclear which ways of tra­vel­ling will be pos­si­ble again to start with. The assump­ti­on that tou­rism will, for a while, be limi­t­ed to forms of tra­vel­ling that invol­ve limi­t­ed num­bers of per­sons and that take place not far from exis­ting infra­struc­tu­re seems to make sen­se. It is also unclear for how long and how far prac­ti­cal or, pos­si­bly, other limi­ta­ti­ons for inter­na­tio­nal traf­fic will be in place.

Curr­ent­ly and at least until 18th May, ever­y­bo­dy who arri­ves in Spits­ber­gen needs to stay in qua­ran­ti­ne for 14 days.