Winter Sports
(Tourism Industry Sector: Entertainment)
Unlike Bergen, Kvitfjell does not have a long history. Rather, the thriving and modern ski resort is an invention courtesy of the 1994 Winter Olympics in Lillehammer. The sports infrastructure of 34 kilometer of slopes, ski lifts, and more that were first constructed then, have since attracted large numbers of primarily Norwegian tourists in addition to professional alpine ski racers. In 2018 over twenty billion crowns were spent in Kvitfjell and the neighboring ski resorts of Eastern Norway, making it by far the biggest tourist destination of the country in terms of expenditure. As the first ski resort to open every year in November, and the last one to close in April, nowhere in Norway is the winter sports season as long as it is here. This concentration on weather dependent activities comes with a marked shift in economic activity outside of the skiing season.
(Tourism Industry Sector: Entertainment)
Unlike Bergen, Kvitfjell does not have a long history. Rather, the thriving and modern ski resort is an invention courtesy of the 1994 Winter Olympics in Lillehammer. The sports infrastructure of 34 kilometer of slopes, ski lifts, and more that were first constructed then, have since attracted large numbers of primarily Norwegian tourists in addition to professional alpine ski racers. In 2018 over twenty billion crowns were spent in Kvitfjell and the neighboring ski resorts of Eastern Norway, making it by far the biggest tourist destination of the country in terms of expenditure. As the first ski resort to open every year in November, and the last one to close in April, nowhere in Norway is the winter sports season as long as it is here. This concentration on weather dependent activities comes with a marked shift in economic activity outside of the skiing season.
Second Homes
(Tourism Industry Sector: Accommodation)
A long tradition of outdoor recreation and a high standard of living courtesy of a flourishing economy, have contributed to a widespread culture of second homes in Norway. Kvitfjell’s proximity to Oslo, and its good connection via the E6 highway or train, make it a perfect place to escape the city for the weekend. Unsurprisingly it has thus become a popular place for many urban dwellers to have their second homes. Notably, the historic lack of a planning framework in place, and the recent surge in second home investments following economic growth and increased mobility, have led to a sprawl of these temporary homes across the mountainous area of Kvitfjell. Their periodical habitation also points at the phenomenon of a big floating population of residents and workers alike. Such core facilities as a hospital and a school in Favang, aimed primarily at a permanent population, thus lay bare the degree to which these homes are continuously inhabited, or rather in use only at particular moments.
(Tourism Industry Sector: Accommodation)
A long tradition of outdoor recreation and a high standard of living courtesy of a flourishing economy, have contributed to a widespread culture of second homes in Norway. Kvitfjell’s proximity to Oslo, and its good connection via the E6 highway or train, make it a perfect place to escape the city for the weekend. Unsurprisingly it has thus become a popular place for many urban dwellers to have their second homes. Notably, the historic lack of a planning framework in place, and the recent surge in second home investments following economic growth and increased mobility, have led to a sprawl of these temporary homes across the mountainous area of Kvitfjell. Their periodical habitation also points at the phenomenon of a big floating population of residents and workers alike. Such core facilities as a hospital and a school in Favang, aimed primarily at a permanent population, thus lay bare the degree to which these homes are continuously inhabited, or rather in use only at particular moments.