Departures of foreign passengers from Iceland via Keflavík Airport were 42,600 in May, according to figures from Tourist Board and Isavia, or seven times more than in June 2020, when there were about six thousand departures.

The Minister of Health has decided to amend the disease prevention rules at the borders applicable as of the 1st of July to the 15th of August. Vaccinated travellers who submit valid vaccination certificates or certificates of prior infections will not need to be tested at the border and same goes for children.

Departures of foreign passengers from Iceland via Keflavík Airport were 14,400 in May, according to figures from Tourist Board and Isavia, or fourteen times more than in May 2020, when there were about one thousand departures. Departures of foreign passengers have not exceeded ten thousand in one month since September 2020.

A trial project is being undertaken for the reception of a European digital COVID-19 certificate at the borders of Iceland for those arriving to the country. Passengers with such certificates have already started arriving in Iceland.

IcelandTravelTech is a joint venture between the Icelandic Tourist Board and Iceland Tourism Cluster. It aims to increase focus on digitization in the tourism industry and to provide both travel industry and tech partners with a platform where they can meet, discuss and showcase challenges and solutions.

As from the 31st of May the provision stipulating a compulsory stay in quarantine facilities for people arriving from specific high-risk areas ceases to apply. As from that time, only those who do not have access to adequate facilities to undergo home quarantine are required to stay in a quarantine facility.

Last week, Þórdís Kolbrún Reykfjörð Gylfadóttir, the Minister of Tourism, announced additional allocations from the Tourist Site Protection Fund, a total amount of ISK 122 million. Additionally, more than ISK 70 million will be spent on infrastructure development and environmental protection at the Fagradalsfjall eruption site, according to proposals from the Minister of Tourism and the Environment and Natural Resources Minister.

The company Hidden Iceland, which received certification from the certification body iCert according to Vakinn's quality and environmental criteria last year, has now done even better and received gold certification in the environmental part of Vakinn, but before that the company had a bronze certification

The definition of criteria for determining whether countries or areas are considered high-risk areas has been revised. In addition to criteria on the incidence rate of infection, a condition will be added regarding the ratio of positive samples which influences whether a region or country is considered a high-risk area or not.

Preparation for establishing destination management organizations in all parts of the country has been underway for some time. Agreements have been signed to establish DMOs in all parts of the country except in the capital area. The Ministry of Tourism, regional associations of municipalities, and the Icelandic Tourist Board are all associates to this agreement. The aim of the agreements is to strengthen the tourism industry's support system and promote the positive progress of the tourism industry throughout the country. The agreements are for three years, with the guiding principle being the future vision of Icelandic tourism until 2030.