Deputy municipal director Marie Fleischer has made a recommendation to the finance committee of Kommuneqarfik Sermersooq, distributing the large amount of money that last year's cruise passengers have paid in environmental and improvement taxes, and which will go to " supporting and promoting tourism locally and regionally, and mitigating any negative consequences thereof".
The DKK 4.5 million will be distributed between Nuuk, Paamiut, Ittoqqortoormiit and Tasiilaq. But in the presentation to politicians, they have chosen not to make a distribution that aligns with the number of cruise passengers who actually visited the ports of call, according to a calculation made by Sermitsiaq.
It is striking that Paamiut only receives project funds corresponding to 18.9 percent, given that the city's cruise share in the municipality is 36.3 percent. A difference of over 780,000 kroner, which the city misses out on in the form of tourism initiatives.
In 2025, Paamiut experienced a real boom in cruise passengers with more than a fivefold increase in the number of visits and last year took third place among the most visited ports of call in all of Greenland.
However, the distribution plan must please the citizens of Tasiilaq, who will receive far more project funds than the number of cruise visits would justify to the city.
In the municipality's northernmost town, Ittoqqortoormiit, you only get 125,000 kroner for an avalanche safety course, even though the number of charter visits this year corresponds to an amount of over 300,000 kroner.
No explanation
The case presentation does not explain why the distribution key for the funds does not match the number of visits that have triggered the money.
The deputy municipal director writes the following about the case presentation for the finance committee meeting on March 12:
- The business department has prepared a rough list of proposals for using the funds, which the committee is asked to consider and prioritize. In addition, the committee may adopt its own proposals for the use of the funds.
A gross list of projects
The gross list is as follows:
NUUK:
Public toilet at Qernertunnguit Kangerluat:
There is a great need for the establishment of toilet facilities at Qernertunnguit Kangerluat. The toilet will be built with a permanent installation, i.e. not as a container. The project has previously been considered by the committee but has unfortunately not yet come to fruition, as the funds for the purpose were reallocated.
Cost approx. 2,000,000 kr.
Ponton bridge at the bottom of Kapisillitfjorden:
A pontoon bridge has been purchased to be installed at the bottom of Kapisillit, east of Kangerlupiluk and 200-300 meters from the nearest cabin to avoid disturbing local cabin owners. This pontoon bridge will connect the path that leads over to the Kangersuneq side, where a shelter will be located. The shelter has just been allocated land. The pontoon bridge will be anchored to the land.
Cost: approx. 200,000 kr
Stairs up to Hans Egede's statue:
During the cruise season, Hans Egede's statue is a popular destination for tourists. Since most tourists who go up to the statue use the path that goes from the church side, it can sometimes be disruptive and inconvenient for churchgoers in Annaassisitta Oqaluffia. By building stairs from the Avannarliit side, this can alleviate the problem.
Cost approx. 200,000 DKK
Installation of 2 toilet containers:
Two toilet containers have been purchased and will be installed in the city center.
Cost approx. 150,000 DKK
Lookout – facilities:
Small “inventory” for the area at the lookout post to Nuuk, where a lookout telescope will be installed. In connection with this, benches, installation, trash cans, etc. will need to be purchased.
Cost approx. DKK 25,000
Qeqertarsuatsiaat
Stairs to the lookout in Qeqertarsuatsiaat and lookout area at the top (including installation).
Cost approx. DKK 50,000
PAAMIUT:
Purchase of 1 toilet container:
Cruise tourism is steadily increasing in Paamiut. In the 2025 season, there were around 30,000 cruise passengers in Paamiut, where the need for more toilets became clear. The lack of toilets caused irritation among business owners and citizens. The funds will be used to purchase the toilet container, the shipment from Nuuk to Paamiut and the installation.
Cost: approx. 475,000 kr
Installation of pontoon bridges in Paamiut and Ivittuut
There is a need for additional pontoon bridges in connection with cruise ship handling, and a handful of new local boat operators have started in Paamiut, and in light of the fact that cruise ship calls in Ivittuut are also increasing, bases for pontoon bridges need to be built in both places. Pontoon bridges have already been purchased.
Cost: approx. 375,000 kr.
ITTOQQORTOORMIIIT:
Avalanche safety course in Ittoqqortoormiit this winter.
The need for an avalanche safety course in Ittoqqortoormiit is increasing, as rapidly changing weather conditions and more frequent extreme weather events can increase the risk in the avalanche-prone terrain. The new tourism act also prioritizes documented safety in the tourism industry and requires operators to ensure safe traffic for tourists. Courses in avalanche safety will therefore strengthen both prevention, risk understanding and local emergency capacity.
Cost approx. DKK 125,000
TASIILAQ / KULUSUK:
12-person course in commercial sailing for tourists in Tasiilaq.
At present, a number of people trained for commercial sailing in Tasiilaq have left the city, and the need for more trained people is clear. There has been a shortage of professionally certified people to serve tourists in Tasiilaq. A course is therefore in demand locally.
Cost approx. 650,000 DKK
Shelter
There is a need for a shelter in Kulusuk at the tourist/airport pontoon so that people and luggage can be protected when it rains while waiting, especially because there are more and more guests sailing between Kulusuk and Tasiilaq in the summer.
Cost approx. 75,000 DKK
Process
Marie Fleischer writes in her recommendation that the committee should decide in which order the projects should be prioritized, including the possibility that the committee itself can decide that its own projects should be carried out. Once this has been done, the decided priorities should be sent to the municipal council for information.
