Again this year, the business council has collected input and ideas from the municipality’s business and tourism operators. The proposals have now been passed on to Qeqertalik’s municipal council as suggestions for the municipality’s budget 2024.
About 40 representatives of the business- and tourist operators in Qeqertalik submitted their proposals to Qeqertalik Business Council on how to improve their towns. They made their suggestions at workshops in Aasiaat, Kangaatsiaq, Qeqertarsuaq and Qasigiannguit this spring, as they were invited by Qeqertalik Business Council.
The suggestions are about improving the towns as great places to live, work and be a tourist in. All this adds up to the political aims, that the municipality of Qeqertalik has.
The municipal board’s budget seminar
After the workshops, the Qeqertalik Business Council gathered the suggestions from the citizens and just before the end of May, the business council passed the suggestions on to the Municipality of Qeqertalik for consideration at the municipal council’s budget seminar for 2024.
The proposals from the business operators are based in particular on infrastructure and recreational opportunities. Some of the proposals are long-term development projects, while others can be implemented almost directly with a small investment. Several of the proposals will also be able to strengthen the Disko Bay region in relation to the expected increasing number of tourists when the Atlantic airport in Ilulissat opens in 2024-2025.
Concrete inputs from business
As something new, three proposals have been made as part of Hotel SØMA’s hotel expansion plans, which will benefit the city and its citizens. The hotel has wishes to have a new harbor facade constructed in front, which will accommodate several exciting projects, including a wish for an additional pontoon bridge to ease the already overcrowded pontoon bridges in the town. In addition, there is a desire to strengthen the coastline from eroding, which can be used with advantage to dump snow into the sea and possibly as a car park.
“I am happy that there are concrete proposals from the business community for the municipality’s budget settings, which we can help to bring to light – But I also hope that the politicians will take the time to consider the many exciting inputs that the municipality’s citizens and businesses has come along” says Gerth P. Olsen, director of the Qeqertalik Business Council.
Repeaters from last year
Since not a single input from the previous year has been adopted by the municipal council, several of the same inputs are included in the budget settings again.
Among other things, the expansion of paths and footbridges, the establishment of activity centres, toilet facilities and several other topics are proposed. All together, something that will be able to improve the possibilities of cities and citizens.
“We at the business council are pleased with the interest of the business operators who participated in our workshops, and we are proud to be able to deliver the recommendations to the municipal council – Now we look forward to seeing what will be included in the municipality’s next budget,” says Gerth P. Olsen.
You can see all the settings sent to the municipal council here. (in greenlandic and danish only).