"This is a country the size of England -- a big part of it is volcanic desert, glaciers, rivers, lakes -- so if we decide to do it we can control the traffic in such a way that we allow people to enjoy the beauty of the country without being overcrowded," he says.

He adds: "When this decade comes to an end we might have two million tourists coming to Iceland every year, and we have to plan for that.

"That is a debate I have encouraged the nation to engage in over the next few years."