Iceland review - 2014, Page 105

ICELAND REVIEW 103
ing them navigate red tape in matters concerning the
city as well as the government. ”
Óli Örn also points out that fdi Intelligence, a divi-
sion of the Financial Times Ltd, has ranked Reykjavík
number two on its shortlist Top 10 Northern European
Cities Excluding UK and Ireland as part of its recently
published business report 'European Cities and
Regions of the Future 2014/2015'.
reykjavík’S eConoMy — overvieW

Main industries: Biggest export sectors: seafood,
energy and tourism.
gdP: Per capita GdP in PPP terms in 2013 was
37.996. 12th in the OECd, ahead of the U.K.,
denmark and Finland.
Population: Reykjavík city: 110,000; Capital area:
200,000; Iceland: 325,000.
Multinationals: Marel, Actavis, Amgen, Alcan,
Alvogen, Icelandair, Össur.
key business markets: Scandinavia, U.K., USA,
France, Germany.
reykjavík touriSM
Tourism has experienced double-digit growth in
the last three years and is expected to become the
country’s largest export sector in 2014.
Tourism is one of the fastest growing sectors in
Iceland. The number of incoming tourists has risen
from 300,000 in 2003 to almost 700,000 in 2012.
Most international visitors come from the USA, the
U.K., Germany, France, and the Scandinavian coun-
tries. Tourism represents 6.6 percent of Iceland’s
GdP and contributes to 19 percent of the export
income.
In Reykjavík there are around 180 hotels and
guesthouses with a total of approximately 3,500
rooms. If the growth in tourism continues at its cur-
rent pace of 7 percent per year, Reykjavík will need
approximately one large (200-400 room) new hotel
per year until 2030.
There are seven projects in the works, which will
make for a combined 1,100 new hotel rooms in the
downtown area. That includes the Harpa Conference
Hall Hotel (250 rooms), Höfðatorg Tower Hotel (343
rooms) and Icelandair Hotel Cultura (140 rooms).
Quality of life
Iceland has been voted the most peaceful country in
the world. It is the only NATO member which does
not have a standing army and its police officers do
not carry firearms on regular duty. Gender equality
and human rights are fundamental in all policymaking
for parliament as well as municipalities.
Hellisheiði geothermal power plant. austurvöllur square. Höfðatorg office complex.