Icelandic tourism director calls for safety plan from Ice Pic Journey following fatal glacier cave tour accident

The Icelandic tourism director has called for a safety plan from Ice Pic Journey, the company involved in a tragic glacier cave tour that resulted in one fatality and another serious injury. Following the incident, Arnar Már Ólafsson emphasized that all companies offering ice cave tours must have safety plans readily available. The Tourism Board is responsible for overseeing these plans, which are reviewed through random inspections of operators.

In light of the recent accident, the board has requested the specific safety plan from Ice Pic Journey and will evaluate the submitted documentation. When questioned about whether companies should already possess safety plans, Ólafsson acknowledged that while firms retain these plans, they are not mandated to submit them unless specifically requested. He highlighted ongoing enhancements in the regulatory focus on safety issues in recent months.

Ólafsson noted that this particular company had not been chosen for an inspection prior to the incident. He stressed the necessity for operators to accurately account for the number of participants on tours, stating it’s a basic requirement that should always be upheld.

While he expressed that safety culture in Iceland’s tourism sector is robust, he lamented that accidents occur frequently throughout the year, leading to shock and concern among the community. The current scenario has prompted a reflection on not just the practices of individual companies, but broader improvements needed within the industry to ensure safety during tours.