The potential of disruptive transport infrastructure for tourism development in emerging island destinations: Research project in the Faroe Islands

Abstract

This qualitative research paper investigates the role of transport infrastructure for community and tourism development in emerging island destinations. The Faroe Islands, a trending tourism attraction, have lately become pioneers in subsea tunnel construction. Their innovative and avant-garde road system is replacing cross-sea ferry links and providing users with shorter travel times across the country, part of a national plan which aims to unite the entire archipelago under one main network. Local actors interviewed through ethnographic fieldwork convey that Faroese subsea tunnels are undisputable, active signs of infrastructure development and can potentially play a key role for the growth and prosperity of tourism across the islands. However, the findings also suggest that policymakers are underestimating the system’s tourism potential. Overall, building underwater is expensive and time-consuming and presents opportunities as well as threats for the destination. This paper encourages Faroese authorities to consider tourism development as an inevitable phenomenon and a potential additional challenge for the small, vulnerable territory. In this context, governmental entities need to understand local dynamics and make the most of the unique features of the destination to create tailored and effective policies which allow the archipelago to benefit from its assets while minimising the risk of socio-economic and environmental issues.