ABSTRACT

This chapter presents the methodological approach in the context of the strategic planning process for tourism over the last three years. It provides a summary of policies at the macro-level that provide a context for understanding the state of tourism in Iceland and the national programs linked to regional growth agreements that are supporting tourism planning in the country. Finally, the outcomes of the strategic planning process will be evaluated in the context of the present characteristics of Nordic tourism innovation systems to evaluate the effectiveness of capacity building in fostering more sustainable forms of tourism in Northeast Iceland. The chapter summarizes the national context that is supporting new local governance for tourism planning and policy formulation in Northeast Iceland. Regional tourism planning in Northeast Iceland can be divided into three main time periods: early programming, project-based development and collaborative planning.