Cruise fee to resolve internal error in Sermersooq

The politicians in the finance committee of Kommuneqarfik Sermersooq will have their hands in a toilet case tonight that covers up an internal error in the finance department, and where the administration has already chosen to solve the problem by taking money from the cruise pool, despite the fact that there are hardly many cruise tourists who will benefit from the toilets.

We will have to turn back time to 2023, when there was a desire that public toilets should be established in the area of ​​Qernertunnguit Kangerluat, near Inuk Hostels, as part of improving the facilities in the area.

The toilet project was to be financed by unused funds from the Infrastructure projects of the Commercial Department in the year in question.

How the mistake happened

In the information item on the Finance Committee's agenda - item 2 - Deputy Municipal Director Marie Fleischer reveals:

- Unfortunately, these funds were not allocated to the project, as the Finance Department had not been made aware that the unused funds were to be used for the toilet project.

It is also stated that the work has already been resumed because the missing amount will be collected from the income that the municipality has received in the environmental and maintenance fee of 50 DKK per passenger from the cruise ships that called at the municipality in 2025.

It is not stated how much money is missing for the specific toilet project.

However, this is revealed later in agenda item number 17: Distribution of funds from fees from cruise tourists.

Millions

Here it is stated that they want to use 2 million kroner out of a total fee pool of 4.5 million kroner from cruise passengers' fee payments in 2025. This corresponds to this one project, which is based on an error, will seize 44 percent of the pool funds, which are dedicated to tourism initiatives not only in Nuuk, but also in Paamiut, Tasiilaq and Ittoqqortoormiit.

It is obvious that the first point of the toilet issue is an information issue for the politicians, where it is not made clear that later – under item 17 on the agenda – there is an issue for decision, where the politicians must deal with how the project funds from the cruise fees should be prioritized, and where the toilet issue is included.

Sermitsiaq has already described the unequal distribution of fee income from cruise passengers, where Paamiut – despite a huge increase in visits by cruise passengers in 2025 – must make do with a percentage of almost 19, which is equivalent to DKK 850,000. If Paamiut were to receive funds from the fee pool in proportion to the number of cruise passengers, the city would be entitled to an amount that is almost double that.

Sewerage costs

A reader has contacted Sermitsiaq because he is incomprehensible that there is a need for public toilet facilities in the area, which amounts to 2 million. DKK.

In the case presentation back in September 2024, it is explained that Inuk Hostels is experiencing great pressure on their toilets from outside tourists and institutions. And the site is designated as an area to be developed in a tourism context. It is especially the establishment of sewerage that will send the project into the millions. The toilets are to be located at the parking lot at Inuk Hostels.