The government has decided to allocate the final NOK 150 million to Andøy Municipality and the Andøy Fund, ensuring the remaining public financing needed for The Whale and other essential transformation initiatives in Andøy.
“We commend the government for prioritizing the Andøy Fund in the revised 2024 state budget,” says Benn Eidissen, Chair of The Whale. “Both Labour and Centre Party representatives have worked hard and delivered on the promises made during the last parliamentary election,” he adds.
Andøy Municipality previously pledged NOK 75 million to The Whale, contingent upon the full financing of the Andøy Fund. Nordland County has contributed NOK 55 million, while the state has directly allocated NOK 75 million to The Whale. The project exemplifies how a joint effort of public and private funding can realize visionary projects that once seemed impossible.
A Year-Round Attraction
“The Whale, as a year-round attraction, will elevate Andøya, Vesterålen, Northern Norway, and Norway as destinations, both nationally and internationally. It will draw both domestic and foreign tourists to Northern Norway to experience the natural advantages unique to this region. In the government’s new export strategy, where tourism is a prioritized sector, The Whale is positioned as one of the leading new products to promote national tourism exports,” says Eidissen.
Preparing for Construction
“The Whale AS has selected HENT as the contractor, and collaboration between the developer, contractor, architect, and other advisors has been ongoing for nearly two months. With the government’s allocation to the Andøy Fund, the last major piece of our financing plan is now in place. This gives us the confidence to continue preparations and stay on track for the planned construction start in spring 2025. With this progress, The Whale is set to open its doors to the public on June 3, 2027,” concludes Benn Eidissen.
