Tourists in Lofoten leave poo in people’s gardens this summer – NRK Nordland

Lofoten shows itself from its best side in early July. The number of tourists is already high, they noticed in Ramberg in the municipality of Flakstad.

Tourism though It also brings many benefitsIt also has less pleasant sides.

– I discovered once again today that the people who use my garden as a toilet are tourists or visitors. They defecate, defecate and urinate. “It’s not just in my garden, it’s in my neighbors’,” says Lorentsen.

Lorentzen has a garden that extends up the slope on the main access road

Lofoten, E10. Between two vines of Lorentzen’s currant bushes, an unwanted tourist destroyed himself during the day.

– This does not apply to all tourism in Lofoten at the moment, he believes.

– What thoughts do you have when you find this among the currant bushes in autumn?

– I really don’t want to take those currants. Then I had to put down the strawberry land as well. I lose my appetite when I’m at work and I don’t know what they’re doing. It is very depressing.

A stone’s throw from Lorentzen’s house, several public toilets have been set up, but the doors are locked.

– The municipality says they are waiting for a plumber who will install two parts and a relay they are missing. It is almost ready to use for 14 days without anything else happening.

During Friday, NRK enjoys that one of the two toilets opened its doors.

Narrator: – Totally unsustainable

Mayor Trond Krogan (SP) in the municipality of Flåkstad said, “We notice that the tourist season has started earlier. This also increases the demand for toilets in Lofoten.

– There are a lot of tourists and it looks like it will be a good year for the tourism industry. This means increased pressure on facilities, he says.

Norway’s Public Roads Administration has set up a temporary toilet pending renovation of one of the other public toilets.

– We have now reached an agreement, and I think the toilet will eliminate the problems of people going to the gardens. It is absolutely unbearable for us who live here.

A permanent tourist toilet should be set up in the municipality

The mayor says there are still challenges related to restrooms. Many tourists in Lofoten arrive by road by car or bus.

The Norwegian Public Roads Administration is now working on rebuilding the toilet facility at Flakstad beach, one of the municipality’s largest camps, with work expected to be completed by the end of the year.

Until then, the Public Road Administration has provided relief by setting up a temporary toilet.

– We requested a toilet and agreed to place it at Ramberg’s lookout point.

We have asked for a big and beautiful toilet that is permanent, says the mayor.

Wants to introduce “tolls” for tourists

After that it was again called “tourist tax”. On the hartal platform, the government called for pilot projects to be launched.

Lofoten wants to be part of the government’s pioneering project, along with the World Heritage Site Western Norwegian Fjord Landscape. The latter consists of the Geirangerfjord and the Nærøyfjord.

The Ministry of Trade and Industry will decide in the autumn which regions will be pilots for visitor subsidies aimed at tourists.

– We are happy that the wheels are in motion and we hope that clarification will be made soon so that the project towards Lofoten can be “changed for good”.

Samuelsson believes that visitor participation can help influence and change the attitudes of visitors to Lofoten.

– When you start, I think it will be well received. You will find yourself moving people away from the currant bush of cai oats. It is important that you get an infrastructure that is sensible in relation to the visitor flows we have in Lofoten, he says.

Flockstad agrees that what Meyer calls audience participation is the way to go.

– Politically it is united, there is a desire to achieve something. We’ve worked a lot with it over the last couple of years. I hope it comes soon.