– Beautiful! We have never seen such a unique landscape like this before, say the Irish tourists Ivan Johnston and Aideen O’Healy. TURISTAR: – Come to Norway, Irish Ivan Johnston and Aideen O’Healy win. They have been to Sandefjord, Larvik and Stavern, and are surprised that it is not more expensive to holiday in Norway. Photo: Ole Oskar Eriksen / news They are on holiday in Norway for the first time, and praise the places they have visited in Vestfold. The low krone exchange rate has surprised them. – We thought it would be more expensive in Norway than it is. We don’t think it’s expensive at all, says Johnston. The holiday has added flavor. – We are definitely going back, they say. Book a holiday for next year – It is booked from all over the world. This is what project director at Norwegian Hospitality Group, Thor Filip Halvorsen, says, and spreads his arms in front of Dalen hotell. Tourists call from the USA, the Netherlands, France and Italy to experience the venerable and luxurious hotel right next to the Telemark Canal. An overnight stay with breakfast at Dalen hotel costs from NOK 3,000 (without bathroom) to NOK 10,000 per night. Photo: ROBERT HANSEN / news If you’re going to spend the night here, you’ll have to dig deep into your wallet. Nevertheless, many people come this summer, and Dalen hotel already notices that foreign tourists are also booking next year’s holiday. – The krone exchange rate means that everyone who does not have the Norwegian krone gets a discount. We have Americans who call and want to come next year, but they want to pay now, says Halvorsen. Earlier out now Telemarkskanalen also notices that foreign tour operators are out much earlier than before. – We already have inquiries from Spanish and English tour operators for next summer. Usually we don’t get it until the autumn, says daily manager, Janne Lindgren. Janne Lindgren, daily manager of Telemarkskanalen. Photo: ROBERT HANSEN / news Foreign tour operators are generally more involved now after the corona pandemic, he says. But it also comes from the krone exchange rate, Lindgren believes. – I would like to believe that the low krone exchange rate both influences Norwegians to holiday more at home, and makes foreign tourists come to Norway, says Lindgren. Many foreign tourists this year – This is gratifying to hear, says Ida Bakken Tønder, communications manager at NHO Reiseliv. Many foreign tourists are coming to Norway this summer, she confirms. Ida Bakken Tønder, communications manager at NHO Reiseliv. Photo: Per Sollerman / Per Sollerman Seven out of ten tourism companies receive more or the same number of foreign tourists as last year, their latest member survey shows. She believes that many foreign tourists have had Norway on their wish list for a long time, and who are now taking advantage of the opportunity because it is a bit more affordable to travel to than it used to be. The krone exchange rate triggers the desire to travel There is a record high desire to travel among foreign tourists to Norway, says tourism director at Visit Norway, Aase Marthe J. Horrigmo. This is shown by figures from their Travel Barometer this spring. Germany is the largest market for foreign tourists for Norway. Last year, growth here was 10 per cent compared to 2021. Aase Marthe J. Horrigmo, tourism director at Visit Norway. Photo: VISIT NORWAY – We now see that the desire to travel to Norway in Germany is at an “all time high”, she says. Horrigmo believes that the combination of a high desire to travel and a low krone exchange rate is a lucky one for Norway. – For those who want a cheap holiday, Norway is still expensive. For those who have wanted to travel to Norway over time, the krone exchange rate may now be what determines whether they take that holiday this year, she says. Increase in Lofoten In Lofoten, the tourism industry is also experiencing an increase in bookings for 2024, according to Destination Lofoten’s marketing manager, Vegeir Selboe. The krone exchange rate is one of two main reasons for this, he points out. – The combination of the krone exchange rate and direct routes means that the journey is cheaper, and Lofoten is closer than before. This results in more bookings with longer stays in Lofoten, says Selboe. Vegeir Selboe, marketing manager at Destination Lofoten. Photo: KJELL OVE STORVIK / DESTINASJON LOFOTEN He is not surprised that tourists are booking holidays for 2024 and 2025. – We are used to booking times of one to three years. They are usually orders from markets that have a long journey, he says.
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Foreign tourists book next year’s holiday due to weak Norwegian krone – news Vestfold and Telemark – Local news, TV and radio
