Local council to spend most visitor contribution on infrastructure

NRK reported on 23 October 2026 that Longyearbyen lokalstyre (the local council) has decided to spend 55 to 60% of the future visitor contribution revenue on infrastructure: roads, footpaths, and water and sewage systems. The local council was unanimous that it also wants to spend money on snowmobile trails and veterinary services. According to NRK, the rest of the revenue is to be divided between visitor management, destination development and measures for the local community.

An estimate cited by NRK puts the visitor contribution at around NOK 20 million a year. Longyearbyen lokalstyre hoped to charge NOK 70 per hotel guest per night and NOK 210 per cruise tourist from 1 January 2027. Terje Aunevik, leader of the local council, told NRK that the visitor contribution could pay for pavements.

According to NRK, a sherpa path and outdoor toilets could also be on the list of what the visitor contribution could pay for. Ingeborg Flønes, managing director of Hurtigruten Svalbard, told NRK that the company supports a visitor contribution. Flønes said the council's rates were somewhat high.

The Government had proposed NOK 60 per hotel guest and NOK 180 per cruise call, and Hurtigruten Svalbard would rather follow those, she said.

Correction, 26 October 2026: an earlier version said Terje Aunevik told NRK that pavements, a sherpa path and outdoor toilets were among earlier ideas for the money. He told NRK the money could pay for pavements; the sherpa path and outdoor toilets were named by NRK as other possible uses.

Correction, 27 October 2026: an earlier version gave only the Government's proposed rates from Ingeborg Flønes of Hurtigruten Svalbard. She also said the council's rates were somewhat high and that the company would rather follow the Government's.

Coverage: NRK