Just over a week into the year’s first summer month, it seems that last year’s records will quickly become history. – We have been inviting parties for many years, and now the guests are really coming. They leave great value behind and are important for year-round workplaces, says Thor Helge Jensen of the Vågan Business Association to news. He points out that throughout the spring season there have been 9.5 per cent more cars on the roads in Lofoten compared to last year. And that the first week of June was no exception. Weak Norwegian krone and new direct routes to Evenes from Europe are unlikely to make it less popular in the future. Now the infrastructure must be improved, Jensen believes. More tourists, with changed travel patterns From 2022 to 2023, there was an increase of 15 per cent in commercial overnight stays in Lofoten. This is what Line Renate Samuelsen, head of tourism at Destination Lofoten, tells us. She explains that the tourists who used to experience the whole of Norway in one week now like to spend a whole week just in Lofoten. Å is one of the many destinations that tourists would like to visit when they visit Lofoten. Photo: Sondre Skjelvik / news – Due to poor public transport solutions in the region, many people choose to rent a car to get around. They want to see more than one place. She adds: – But with the road network we have now, it will be a vulnerable situation. Many tens of motorhomes drive in a row along the roads in Lofoten, and meet the photographer couple Stine Mette Fjerdingstad and Halvdan Jarl Laugerud. @stineogjarlen The statements that tourists stay longer on the archipelago are based on research they have done themselves. This is done, among other things, to convince airlines that it is profitable to set up direct routes from Europe to Evenes. Targeted work that has yielded results: Frankfurt – Evenes started on 16 May. Zürich – Evenes opened on 10 June. Paris – Evenes opens on 15 June. – These are guests who often stay for a long weekend, a week or even longer. Now we are also working to spread the tourists beyond the shoulder and winter seasons. It is about removing the peaks and spreading the traffic to more areas in our neighbourhood. Rorbu and beautiful mountains tempt. Photo: Sondre Skjelvik / news Believes in a further increase Thor Helge Jensen in the Vågan Business Association emphasizes that they are happy for the tourists. – It creates major ripple effects for a small area with many mountains and little space. But at times, especially in the summer, it gets full. The increase in tourists has occurred gradually over several years, and does not appear to be stopping anytime soon. – We see that many people in Central Europe escape north in the summer. Then Scandinavia is the winner, including Lofoten. We will see a significant increase in visitors in the coming years, he believes. Jensen adds: – Nowhere else in Northern Norway will there be greater socio-economic benefit from investments in infrastructure than in Lofoten. Summer heat in northern Norway is often good enough for many. Photo: Sondre Skjelvik / news Jensen says, like a number of Lofoten mayors, that the infrastructure must now be improved to keep up with the growth in the tourism industry. – We must be prepared for what happens in five years. The Hålogalandsveien from Evenes will make Lofoten even more accessible. But then the tourists come to infrastructure that was not built for this at all. He points out that in the summer months there are already more cars driving through Lofoten than on the E6 over Saltfjellet: – So we are talking about the E6 versus the E10. That puts it into perspective a bit. The increase we foresee in the future requires better infrastructure. Friction between tourists and local population Both Samuelsen in Destination Lofoten and Jensen in Vågan Næringsforening are concerned that, despite the bad roads, it is very gratifying that Lofoten has become a particularly popular destination. The former say they are working actively to be able to take greater advantage of the interest outside the summer. Lofoten is beautiful in winter, but not as popular as in summer. Photo: Sondre Skjelvik / news – Our focus is to get more tourism all year round. Sustainable development at our destination. Lower the peaks and get more consistent visitor numbers. When asked if she is worried about the endless increase in summer, Samuelsen replies that they work with the organized part of tourism. At the same time, there is a lot of tourism that happens outside of their control. – We see that there can be friction between the local population and tourism that we cannot control. Among other things, it is about motorhome tourism that does not use mobile home campers or campsites, but rather settles down anywhere and settles in a little too much. The tourists they have greater control over, i.e. those who fly in, may be even more in the future. – You have worked hard to get direct routes to Evenes from Europe. Will there be even more in the future? – I guess we don’t give up on that. We think we have the potential for more routes. Published 13.06.2024, at 11.39
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Measuring a record number of cars on the roads – tourists stay longer than before – news Nordland
