New Winds: Tourist Attitudes Toward Wind Energy Projects in Iceland

Edita Tverijonaite (), Anna Dóra Sæþórsdóttir () and Zsuzsanna Kövi
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Edita Tverijonaite: Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Iceland, Dunhaga 5, 107 Reykjavik, Iceland
Anna Dóra Sæþórsdóttir: Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Iceland, Dunhaga 5, 107 Reykjavik, Iceland
Zsuzsanna Kövi: Institute of Psychology, Károli Gáspár University of the Reformed Church in Hungary, 1037 Budapest, Hungary

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 10, 1-18

Abstract: With increasing wind energy infrastructure developments, better understanding of its impacts on tourism is needed. This study examines international visitors’ attitudes toward wind farms in Iceland and investigates how locational factors affect their compatibility with tourism. Based on a survey answered by 1005 departing visitors, this study reveals that 92% are concerned about climate change. However, a lower proportion, 76%, support the use of wind energy in Iceland. Central European visitors are the most likely to be negatively affected by wind energy development, while Asian visitors showed the greatest interest in visiting a wind farm in Iceland. Among visitors from the leading countries of origin, French tourists were the most negative toward wind energy development in Iceland. Wind farms were perceived as most suitable in industrial, offshore, and agricultural areas, whereas their suitability was considered lowest in national parks and other protected natural areas and cultural heritage areas. Positive attitudes toward the use of wind energy positively affected the perceived suitability of wind farms in all of the discussed areas, while a lower perceived compatibility of wind farms with the tourist experience had a negative effect. The study highlights the importance of careful spatial planning and participatory approaches to improve compatibility between tourism and harnessing wind energy.

Keywords: wind energy; wind farm; tourists; attitudes; impacts; tourism; Iceland (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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