Camp Itivi has more visitors

Camp Itivi in ​​Nuup Kangerlua is a popular place both for inland tourists and tourists from outside who want to experience the unspoiled Greenlandic nature.

It lies undisturbed only with the animals as neighbors without access for internet or telephone.

Camp Itivi in ​​Nuup Kangerlua is a popular place both for inland tourists and tourists from outside who want to experience the unspoiled Greenlandic nature.

It lies undisturbed only with the animals as neighbors without access for internet or telephone.

Several local companies now use the camp for meetings and for outings for employees looking for relaxation.

It is a one-man company run by Nikolaj Jensen.

He takes care of everything himself in the period from the weekend before Easter to October. The date of closure depends on ice cover in the fjord.

The new airport means that there are more tourists from abroad, including 20 guests from Asia.

- I get positive reactions both from locals companies and from the guests from abroad, and now have inquiries from travel agencies in England and Switzerland who travel to next year.

The camp consists of five cabins. There are three rental cabins yellow, blue and green built as 92 mm log cabins. One staff cabin with shower room for guests with own entrance as well as a storage room of 75 square meters. As well as a shared cabin with a kitchen and living room.

All cabins are included solar system with battery bank. The large staff cabin will be in the future have a solar system of 6.2 kw with battery bank.

He is going with plans for expansion with more cabins and restaurant for its own guests.

Many obstacles

Nikolaj Jensen is a trained electromechanic and electrical installer. He started his tourism business with the camp in 2019-20.

The worst possible time.

He ran into several problems and obstacles in the beginning.

The first years everything was quiet because of corona and afterwards came the war against Ukraine, which meant that all building materials became very expensive.

But he overcame the obstacles.

Since then, he has made a profit every year that has been used for improvements and expansion to future-proof the company. Among other things to solar system with battery bank.

He is alone in everything. Makes sure the guests stay sailed back and forth in an inflatable boat. Responsible for shopping, washing and cleaning and service in the camp and on trips.

But he gets help from his good friends Otto Frank Hansen with sailing and service and Stefan Josefsen, who is carpenter and electrician. When he needs help during busy periods, stands they are always available. Nikolaj is very happy about the help.

Guests spend time in the wilderness bath and sauna, hiking with or without a guide and enjoy the wildlife, fishing trips both in the fjord and in the river. There is also the option of purchasing additional sailing trips around the great Nuup Kangerlua and visit boats in Isfjorden, Qoornoq, Qorqut, Kapisillit, Neriunaq, Itinera and Uummannaq island and on the way meet whales. Many people enjoy it.

Need a bigger boat

He calls for a bigger boat.

- When there are many guests who have to come and back at the same time, I need to rent a bigger boat. It is expensive because there is a demand for them. And when the cruise ships come, the price goes up rent a boat in the weather, he says.

As mentioned, he uses his profits for investments in the camp.

Still, he had saved up and had the money to do it pay over half for a boat for ten people and two crew members, but the bank would not be involved, even though they advertised that they would help entrepreneurs.

- But that obviously doesn't apply to a little one Greenlandic company that is run by one person, he states and adds:

- It would have been a great help to me business if I had a bigger boat to sail my guests and who will could sail other trips in the fjord when Camp Itivi did not have to use it itself. I don't understand why the bank couldn't see it, he says.

There are examples of several private tourist boats in Nuuk, which has come into being with the growing tourism in the capital, and which is making a profit. So Nikolaj Jensen has difficulty understanding why he cannot get one financed boat to his business, which has the customers and which makes a profit.

Due to the many difficulties and obstacles, he is currently considering whether to give up and sell the company to Nuuk Water Taxi or another investor.

- I can instead use the money to start my own electrical business in Nuuk and use my education, he says.