– It is good for us that the Norwegian krone is getting weaker because it means that we can go to restaurants one or two more times, says Christina Skov Iversen. She and her family are ready for the boat trip home from Kristiansand to Hirtshals in Denmark after spending the winter holiday skiing in Vrådal in Telemark. Because unlike the Norwegians, the Danes can take advantage of the fact that the Norwegian krone is cheaper than it has been for a long time. – In the choice between holidaying in Austria, Sweden or Norway, as we Danes do, it is better for Norway now that the price is a little cheaper, says Iversen. Can one say that the expression “it’s nice to be Norwegian in Denmark” can be changed to “it’s nice to be Danish in Norway”? – No, that would be stretching it a bit far, but it is better to be Danish in Norway now than before, laughs Iversen. The car is full when the Iversen family ends their skiing holiday in Telemark. Photo: Anna Rut Tørressen / news How to get offers on Norwegian goods The Norwegian krone has weakened steadily against other currencies since 2012. At the time of writing, Norwegians pay NOK 1.49 for DKK 1. This means that Norwegians must add close to 50 per cent to the price tag when shopping in Denmark. While the Danes, on the other hand, can deduct over 30 per cent on goods in Norway. – It is good because it is usually very expensive to be in Norway. It is an expensive country, says Hugo Kleister. The Dane also went on holiday to Norway, specifically Knaben in Kvinesdal municipality, to go skiing. Hugo Kleister visited his girlfriend in Flekkefjord. They spent the days on the slalom slope at Knaben. Photo: private Why is the krone weak? Morten Haraldsen of DNB Markets says that the reason why the Danish krone has become so expensive for us Norwegians is a strong euro. – Denmark is in the EU but chose to keep DKK as its currency. The fact that the krone is weak against the DKK is because the krone is weak against the euro, since the DKK has an almost fixed exchange rate against the euro. This is done by the Danish National Bank pursuing the same interest rate policy as the ECB, says Haraldsen and adds: – When the ECB will soon probably have higher interest rates than Norges Bank, it means that the Danish National Bank will probably soon too. Interest rate differences, unrest and oil prices are important factors in explaining what determines the price of the krone. Time to get rid of the “expensive label” – For tourism in Southern Norway and the tourists who come to Norway, it’s great, says general manager of Visit Southern Norway, Hege Julianne Nevestad. Because while many probably think that a weak Norwegian krone is bad news, the tourism industry sees it differently. – We get to show ourselves in a different way when everything is not perceived as so expensive all the time, says Nevestad and adds: – Norway has acquired an expensive reputation over the years, and now it is time for us to wash it off us. Visit Sørlandet has already noticed an increase in tourists. – The Danish winter holiday week has affected the whole of Southern Norway in a better way than last year and the year before, but it is too early to say how big the development is yet, says Nevestad. Managing director of Visit Sørlandet, Hege Julianne Nevestad believes that the weak krone can strengthen Sørlandet as a holiday destination. Photo: Anna Rut Tørressen / news – Danes flock to Norway Color Line also notices an increase in the number of Danes making the trip over to Norway. In the months of January and February, there has been an increase of thirty percent compared to the same period in 2019. – The Danes are proven to spend money, so I think that the currency change has something to say, says sales and marketing manager at Color Line, Nina Moland Andersen . Sales and marketing manager at Color Line, Nina Moland Andersen, believes that the Danes are enjoying themselves more on holiday in Norway now that the krone is weak. Photo: Anna Rut Tørressen / news Want to come back Although the Danes news spoke to in the queue on their way home to Denmark after their skiing holiday in Agder and Telemark, they do not 100 percent agree that it is nice to be Danish in Norway, they still think the weak krone will mean that more people will go on holiday in the neighboring country. – I especially think that families will take advantage of the fact that prices are going down. It is better to drive to Norway, which is close by, than to travel far, says Hugo Kleister. Hugo Kleister traveled from Skjern in Denmark to visit his girlfriend in Flekkefjord. Photo: Anna Rut Tørressen / news
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The Norwegian krone has weakened significantly – the Danes can benefit from this – news Sørlandet – Local news, TV and radio
