Lots of British cruise tourists are among those keen on visiting the small town of Bryne, south of Stavanger, this summer. It’s the hometown of football player Erling Braut Haaland, the Manchester City superstar who has clearly put it on the map.
Local residents are bracing for another influx of visitors, and prepared that their numbers may quadruple this year. Newspaper Stavanger Aftenblad reports that the local coach of the Bryne football club’s junior squad has taken on the job as tourism chief in the town, and he’s a busy man.
“My job is to maintain contact with all those involved, organize guided tours and sometimes conduct tours myself,” Olav Stangeland Lygren told the newspaper. Last year there were 20 guided tours around Bryne Stadium where Haaland played in his youth. This year they’re prepared for 80 groups of between 10 and 50 people, primarily made up of tourists arriving on cruiseships at Stavanger and interested in an excursion to the Jæren area and Bryne.
The new organization Opplev Jæren (literally, “Experience Jæren”) cooperates with the Bryne FK (the football club), Guide Companiet (a guiding company) and Region Stavanger, which promotes attractions in the entire area located in southwestern Norway. Tourists are shown sports facilities including Jærhallen, Bryne’s club house and locker room and some local street art. They’re also offered a taste of local food.
NewsinEnglish.no staff
