WATCH: Johannes Pleschberger reports on the volcano activity in Iceland

Just about 10 kilometers from Iceland's expected volcano eruption site, numerous tourists visit the Krysuvik hot springs - ignoring government warnings.

I received a text message saying that I have to leave the area," Manuel - a tourist from Germany - told CGTN on Tuesday. "We aren't scared about that," his girlfriend Ramona adds.

While Iceland is bracing for a very likely volcano eruption, tourist arrival numbers in the Nordic country have remained constant. Some of the visitors seem to be unaware of the danger.

"There are many tourists everywhere and it doesn't look like that the volcano does explode in a few days or something else. We don't see any tourists panicking," Manuel says.

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At the moment the eruption is seen as imminent, but authorities have lowered the threat level in Grindavik, allowing residents to return for several hours. The expected eruption site has move a few kilometers away from the town.

According to Iceland's Minister for Culture and Business Affairs Lilja Alfreðsdóttir, the restricted perimeter around the volcano is large enough and well secured.

"We have been communicating information to the tourists what place are not safe and that is in a very secured area," she told CGTN. "Tourism is very important, it provides about 30 to 35 percent of all our export revenues."

Volcanoes are both a magnet and a threat to tourism in Iceland. People from all over the world come to go volcano hiking or hot spring bathing. At the same time the lava can destroy tourism infrastructure and block air traffic.

Despite evacuations and rising lava levels, incoming tourist numbers have remained constant according to the government. In case of an unlikely stop to air traffic at the country's only international airport, tourists would be able to use small local airports in other parts of the country.

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