Unable to travel abroad this summer, Norwegians like others around the world are preparing for holidays in their own scenic homeland. A new survey shows that the Lofoten islands in Northern Norway are the top destination of choice.
The survey, conducted by research firm Norstat for the online travel service Finn reise, showed fully three of four Norwegians were planning summer holidays in Norway even before the government extended restrictions on travel abroad until August 20.
Many Norwegians will head for their own holiday homes (hytter), go camping or return to trailer parks. Lofoten, however, emerged as the destination most cited in the Finn reise survey (30 percent). Northern Norway in general placed second and Svalbard third.
The popular area running along the southern coast known as Sørlandet landed in fourth place, with many Norwegians planning to rent cabins in popular coastal communities like Hvaler, Kragerø, Kristiansand, Risør and Arendal.
Hotels all over the country are hoping to recover some of their losses from the absence this year of foreign tourists, but it won’t be enough. Norway’s tourism industry has boomed in recent years, with the country attracting more foreigners than ever, but this year will show a huge decline in visitor arrivals. For Norwegians, however, cities like Bergen will be even more attractive without the thousands of foreign tourists disembarking from cruiseships or by the busload. Oslo is also likely to be much calmer and quieter.
newsinenglish.no staff
