'Coolcations' taking a toll in Norway

That was one of The New York Times Travel section's 52 Places to Go this year, and the area outside Tromso, where the northern lights are on display in winter, have been overwhelmed with visitors.

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That's concerning for Synnove Solemdal, the director of the Sunnmore branch of the Norwegian Tourist Association, which maintains trails and mountain huts near Geiranger and Alesund. "In Norway, we feel very strongly about the responsibility we have to nature," she said. "People grow up learning how to use it and protect it. But people from other countries may not have that knowledge, so protecting nature becomes more and more challenging."

The government is addressing the challenge. Last year, the tourist authority cancelled a campaign promoting outdoor travel over concerns about the environmental impact. Earlier this summer, it approved a 3% tourist tax on overnight stays and cruise passengers.