Scan Magazine
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Experience of the Month
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Greenland
Experience of The Month, Greenland
Authentic experiences of Greenland There are few places on earth where you can visit the real wilderness and see firsthand nature as raw and beautiful and a history as rich as in Greenland. With the right guide, you can experience the real people, the life and the culture of this majestic country, whilst respecting the natural balance and order of the surroundings. By Trine Ejlskov Jensen-Martin
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Photos: Arctic Boat Charter
Erik Palo Jacobsen is the owner of Arctic Boat Charter (ABC), a small oneman and one-boat company in Nuuk in northwestern Greenland. He is captain of M/S Sterna, tour guide, and a natural raconteur, who grew up near the Arctic Circle in Sisimiut, with wilderness all around. Erik Palo has sailed across many seas and is a hugely experienced and trusted captain. “Growing up in the Arctic landscapes with at times extreme weather conditions, you get to know its nature and the pitfalls, as well its beauty,” he says. Meaningful tourism Erik Palo cares deeply about his country and its people and recognises the opportunities to develop tourism in Greenland, and the many positive effects this has on the country’s economy. “We want and 72 | Issue 172 |
November 2024
need tourists, but must remember other values besides the financial gain, like the joy of sharing our culture and beautiful nature.” He runs a business that respects nature and culture, the well-being of his guests and himself, and firmly believes a thriving tourist trade is possible without compromising the things that truly matter.
The threat of mass tourism is evident in Greenland, with cruise ships polluting the fjords and disturbing the natural balance of things. The past five years have seen a steep increase in visiting cruise ships, so much so that a long-awaited tourism law is finally coming into place, to protect the environment, the people and their culture. Tailormade adventures ABC is a one-of-a-kind company; Rarely is your first point of contact, captain, guide and host the same person. Every trip is tailormade and Erik Palo engages in a dialogue with his guests from the minute they first approach him. “I consider what kind of people they are and try to gauge what they might like me to arrange for them,” he says. Besides captain Erik Palo, onboard M/S Sterna you will find his seafaring colleague and friend Nujalina, “a wonderful human being!” Together, they look after every aspect of guests’ well-being and enjoyment, from sustenance to distraction if a spot of seasickness should occur.