– The weather is reported to be a bit bad here at home, so with a heat wave down in the South this will be good, says Merete Bjørnestad from Farsund. She and her family have just checked in their luggage at Stavanger airport Sola. The atmosphere is top notch. – So they are not frightened by the weak krone? – No, we don’t think too much about it. We’re just going on a trip! But there is little doubt that it has become more expensive to be a Norwegian on a southern holiday. NOK 35 for a soft drink Elisabeth Svela runs a beach bar and restaurant on the Greek island of Ios in Greece, where prices have risen recently, she explains. – In recent years, everything has become much more expensive, here too. The krone exchange rate comes on top of this, says Svela. When news talks to her, for example, a glass of cola costs NOK 35 at her restaurant Beach House Ios. It has also become more expensive at the Ørneredet bar in Magaluf on the holiday island of Mallorca in Spain. The prices of alcohol units have increased by one to one and a half euros since last year. – We notice that young Norwegian tourists spend less money. They stay longer in their hotel rooms and have a premonition before they go out. They are busy saving, says Gjøran Dolve, who runs the Eagle’s Nest. Prices at Ios Beach House – GreeceNorwegian Elisabeth Svela runs a bar and restaurant on the Greek island of Ios. Here is a selection of prices from the menu hennär. Soft drink: NOK 35 Ice cream (three scoops): NOK 70 (…but special price for children) Coffee: NOK 47 Beer (0.6l): NOK 70 Glass of wine: NOK 47 (Convert to Norwegian kroner 10 July 2023) Prices at Cjøkeredet – SpainNorwegian Gjøran Dolve runs the Cjøkeredet bar in Magaluf on Mallorca. Here are some prices from his menu.Soft drink: NOK 29 Coffee: NOK 23 Beer (0.5l): NOK 52 Glass of wine: NOK 52 Irish coffee: NOK 122 (Convert to Norwegian kroner 10 July 2023) The weather trumps the krone But according to those who sell tours to warmer regions, there is one factor that matters more than how expensive it has been. – We see a much clearer connection with weather and weather forecasts than the media’s focus on the krone exchange rate, says Marie-Anne Zachrisson, country manager at Ving Norway. When the fine weather arrived in June, demand for Sydenreiser decreased, according to Zachrisson. – But now that we are in the middle of the high season and the weather has been unstable in parts of the country, it is full speed again, she says. – A cold reminder Ticket, TUI and Apollo also believe that few things frighten Norwegians to the booking sites more than gray weather. Apollo has had a salsa week of 50 percent in the last two weeks compared to the previous weeks. These two families from Sokndal are happy that they booked a trip to the South last year. From left: Odin Stålesen Grastveit, Eirik Grastveit, Oda Eia Glenrange, Alexander Eia Glenrange, Ella Stålesen Grastveit, Anne Stålesen with Jens Stålesen Grastveit, Jonas Glendrange, Maja Eia Glendrange. Photo: Rolv Christian Topdahl / news – That the increase came at the same time as the unique fine weather we’ve had here at home turned again is probably no coincidence. For many, it was probably a cold reminder of what a normal summer in Norway can look like, when it suddenly started to pour down and the sandals had to give way in favor of combat boots, says Beatriz Rivera, communications manager, Apollo. Beatriz Rivera, Communications Manager, Apollo. She says that July is the busiest month of the year for the charter company. It’s the school holidays and Norwegians want to go to warmer climates. Photo: Johnny Syversen / Apollo The weather is important, but the prices and the weak krona also have a big effect, according to communications advisor at TUI, Dian Martinez Valencia. – It is still the classic destinations Crete, Rhodes and Mallorca that are most popular, but percentage-wise it is Bulgaria, Samos in Greece and Turkey that have increased the most. It has to do with the krone exchange rate – these are destinations where you get more travel for your money, he says. – Pushing the last available seats Travel south has generally been a bit more expensive this year compared to last year. Actually up to 40 per cent more expensive, chief economist Kyrre M. Knudsen at SR-Bank has told Nettavisen. Many people think like the family from Farsund and want to get away from the gray weather as soon as possible, confirms Marie-Anne Zachrisson, country manager of Ving Norway. Photo: DAVID KURTZ / DAVID KURTZ But even if the joint holiday is normally the busiest and most expensive period, the travel operators state that it is possible to get hold of cheaper remaining places. – It is not unusual for charter and airline companies to try to push the last available seats for attractive prices in order to get them sold. It’s not really cheap travel, but you can find some attractive offers, says Hans Jørgen Elnæs, who is a flight analyst, consultant and day-to-day manager at Winair.
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Thinks the weather gives a stronger southern effect than the krone exchange rate – news Rogaland – Local news, TV and radio
