Daníel Pétur Daníelsson, a graduate from the MA programme in rural tourism at Hólar University, has been awarded the Icelandic Travel Industry Association (SAF) and Icelandic Tourism Research Centre (RMF) Thesis Prize for his master's thesis Ræs! – Síld! Rannsókn á sambandi Síldarminjasafns Íslands við samfélagið í Siglufirði.
(A study of the relationship between the Herring Era Museum and the local community in Siglufjörður).
He completed the thesis for an MA degree in rural tourism at Hólar University under the supervision of Laufey Haraldsdóttir, lecturer at the Hólar University Faculty of Rural Tourism. The prize is awarded annually for an outstanding thesis on Icelandic tourism and the travel industry, with the goal of raising the profile of high-quality research by young academics and highlighting the importance of new knowledge in the field.
Daníel’s research examined the relationship between the Herring Era Museum and the local community in Siglufjörður, aiming to identify factors that could strengthen those ties. The research was qualitative, and the main data collection was carried out through focus group interviews.
The main findings indicate that the Herring Era Museum plays an important role in the community of Siglufjörður, both as a repository of cultural heritage and as a tourist attraction. The study also revealed that the museum’s greatest challenge has been reaching people in the local area and more diverse groups. Daníel’s research suggests that a diverse programme of events and increased collaboration with local people are crucial in deepening the relationship between museums and their local communities, enhancing social engagement and promoting awareness of local cultural heritage.
The evaluation committee found the thesis to be clear, well-written and of a high academic standard. In particular, they praised the way in which it examines the relationship between the museum and diverse groups, showing how active engagement with local people can increase the value of the museum both as a cultural institution and as part of Siglufjörður as a tourist destination.
The prize is a welcome recognition of Daníel’s contribution to research in the field of tourism studies and also an affirmation of the strength of research and academic work within the University of Iceland at Hólar’s Faculty of Rural Tourism.
The University of Iceland at Hólar congratulates Daníel Pétur on this wonderful achievement.
This article is a translation of the article on the Icelandic Tourism Research Centre’s website, which is available here.