Mikami Guest House in Qasigiannguit is growing with the increasing tourism, offering accommodation and activities to tourists seeking local experiences.

Growing tourism in Greenland means that more small businesses are flourishing all over the country.

The growing tourism

The new airports and new flight routes mean that both small and large companies expect more tourists and are preparing for it.

Growing tourism in Greenland means that more small businesses are flourishing all over the country.

The growing tourismAnnouncement

The new airports and new flight routes mean that both small and large companies expect more tourists and are preparing for it.

A small family-run tourism business in Qasigiannguit – Mikami Guest House – is looking forward to the new international airport in Ilulissat opening next year.

There have been fewer bookings this summer due to the cancellations on the flight between Copenhagen and Nuuk.

– But it is only when the season is over that we can assess how big the difference is compared to previous years, points out Jûnârak’ Mikaelsen, co-owner of Mikami Guest House in Qasigiannguit.

Family business

Mikami Guest House has been run by the Mikaelsen family since 2018, consisting of parents Andreas and Laila Mikaelsen and their three adult children: Avaruna, Jûnârak’ and Tukummeq, all of whom are co-owners and actively work in the business, which attracts tourists all year round, both winter and summer.

The company has six houses and offers both accommodation options inside Qasigiannguit and out in nature, where they have a summer house and hunting lodge.

For those who want to go on longer trips, there is the option of renting tents with all equipment including kitchen equipment and a satellite phone, should an urgent problem arise that needs to be solved right away. 

Experience packages

In addition, the company has experience packages for those who would like to experience authentic Greenlandic culture, including storytelling on guided tours through the city, a trip to a museum, coffee with a local family, and a Greenlandic buffet with Greenlandic ingredients, with live music in the background by a well-known Greenlandic artist.

In addition, the family offers a Greenlandic gourmet experience that is out of the ordinary.

They also offer a guided boat trip further afield, where it is possible to experience whales, musk oxen, grouse, as well as a trip past the summer house, and with the opportunity to catch trout with your bare hands in the river at the end of Laksebugten north of the city.

Cancellations in Nuuk

Mikami Guest House is usually fully booked during the summer months, but this year there are fewer bookings than in previous years.

Jûnârak’ Mikaelsen believes that the reason, among other things, is that many potential tourists have been quite concerned about whether they could even come to Greenland with all the cancellations that have occurred at the new airport in Nuuk.

Therefore, they have been more hesitant to book trips to Greenland via Denmark.

– So the many cancellations and changes in flight connections have caused concern, but we hope that it will become more stable as soon as tourists are not dependent on the airport in Nuuk, assesses Jûnârak’ Mikaelsen, who states that there will be more bookings in 2026, when the new airport in Ilulissat opens.

Mother struck by cancer

At the same time, the small family-run business has been hit on the home front.

– Our mother – who is both the administrator and the heart of Mikami Guest House – was diagnosed with cancer at the end of 2024. This has naturally affected the level of activity.

– Mikami has been running quietly all winter, but the summer season this year is not fully booked, as we usually experience. This may be because we have not been quick enough to respond, or that some in town believe that we are no longer as active as before, and therefore do not recommend us as much, says Jûnârak’ Mikaelsen.

Growing tourism in Greenland means that more small businesses are flourishing all over the country.

The growing tourism

The new airports and new flight routes mean that both small and large companies expect more tourists and are preparing for it.

Growing tourism in Greenland means that more small businesses are flourishing all over the country.

The growing tourismAnnouncement

The new airports and new flight routes mean that both small and large companies expect more tourists and are preparing for it.

A small family-run tourism business in Qasigiannguit – Mikami Guest House – is looking forward to the new international airport in Ilulissat opening next year.

There have been fewer bookings this summer due to the cancellations on the flight between Copenhagen and Nuuk.

– But it is only when the season is over that we can assess how big the difference is compared to previous years, points out Jûnârak’ Mikaelsen, co-owner of Mikami Guest House in Qasigiannguit.

Family business

Mikami Guest House has been run by the Mikaelsen family since 2018, consisting of parents Andreas and Laila Mikaelsen and their three adult children: Avaruna, Jûnârak’ and Tukummeq, all of whom are co-owners and actively work in the business, which attracts tourists all year round, both winter and summer.

The company has six houses and offers both accommodation options inside Qasigiannguit and out in nature, where they have a summer house and hunting lodge.

For those who want to go on longer trips, there is the option of renting tents with all equipment including kitchen equipment and a satellite phone, should an urgent problem arise that needs to be solved right away. 

Experience packages

In addition, the company has experience packages for those who would like to experience authentic Greenlandic culture, including storytelling on guided tours through the city, a trip to a museum, coffee with a local family, and a Greenlandic buffet with Greenlandic ingredients, with live music in the background by a well-known Greenlandic artist.

In addition, the family offers a Greenlandic gourmet experience that is out of the ordinary.

They also offer a guided boat trip further afield, where it is possible to experience whales, musk oxen, grouse, as well as a trip past the summer house, and with the opportunity to catch trout with your bare hands in the river at the end of Laksebugten north of the city.

Cancellations in Nuuk

Mikami Guest House is usually fully booked during the summer months, but this year there are fewer bookings than in previous years.

Jûnârak’ Mikaelsen believes that the reason, among other things, is that many potential tourists have been quite concerned about whether they could even come to Greenland with all the cancellations that have occurred at the new airport in Nuuk.

Therefore, they have been more hesitant to book trips to Greenland via Denmark.

– So the many cancellations and changes in flight connections have caused concern, but we hope that it will become more stable as soon as tourists are not dependent on the airport in Nuuk, assesses Jûnârak’ Mikaelsen, who states that there will be more bookings in 2026, when the new airport in Ilulissat opens.

Mother struck by cancer

At the same time, the small family-run business has been hit on the home front.

– Our mother – who is both the administrator and the heart of Mikami Guest House – was diagnosed with cancer at the end of 2024. This has naturally affected the level of activity.

– Mikami has been running quietly all winter, but the summer season this year is not fully booked, as we usually experience. This may be because we have not been quick enough to respond, or that some in town believe that we are no longer as active as before, and therefore do not recommend us as much, says Jûnârak’ Mikaelsen.