Destination: Norway
With over ten million overnight stays by foreign visitors, a total expenditure of 1.4 billion euros is reached. Taking into account the number of these overnight stays, and the average daily expenditure per person, Germans are the tourists that spend most money in Norway. They are followed by American, Chinese, British, and Swedish tourists respectively. Once more: it remains to be seen how the global COVID-19 pandemic has affected the attraction of foreign tourists.
From Natural Resources to Tourism
Exiting Extraction
Spending Kroner
Attracting ¥€$
Although the petroleum industry continues to be the cornerstone of the Norwegian economy, amounting to 18% of the country’s GDP, Norway has drastically reduced the extraction of other natural resources like stones, metals, and minerals. The shrinking mining industry now extracts these resources in only 15% of the available deposits. While hazardous drilling for oil in untouched arctic areas is currently being explored, paradoxically - as per its 2016 Green Competitiveness initiative - the Norwegian government has also defined the tourism industry as a new and supposedly sustainable economic focal point in a post-petroleum economy.
The majority of tourist spending in Norway is done by Norwegians themselves. Prefered local tourist destinations are largely dependent on available infrastructures and their connection to major cities, which accommodates a prevalent culture of second homes in Norway. Notably the mountainous east of the country is especially beloved by tourists from Norway. Following COVID-19 lockdown measures, many Norwegians flocked to their holiday homes, underlining their changing nature from second homes to first homes.
In addition to a steady growth of domestic tourism in recent years, there is an especially strong increase in the influx of foreign visitors. While Northern European countries arrive by various means including cars, ferries, and trains, the vast majority of international tourists take a plane to Norway. By far the most popular destinations for foreign travellers are Fjord Norway and capital Oslo. In the wake of a near-global lockdown caused by COVID-19, it is unsure how international travel will recover.
Bergen:
Bergen:
Navigating Transportation
The Present Condition in 2020
A hundred and twenty five years ago, the Hurtigruten line started its maritime connection called coastal voyage from Bergen to Kirkenes. Today many more ships visit the city bringing up to eight thousand cruise passengers in on a busy day. Additionally, Bergen’s airport is the second largest airport in Norway welcoming six million people in 2018, sixty percent of which were Norwegians.
A hundred and twenty five years ago, the Hurtigruten line started its maritime connection called coastal voyage from Bergen to Kirkenes. Today many more ships visit the city bringing up to eight thousand cruise passengers in on a busy day. Additionally, Bergen’s airport is the second largest airport in Norway welcoming six million people in 2018, sixty percent of which were Norwegians.
The Vision of the Roadmap Towards Sustainable Travel and Tourism
In accordance with the Roadmap: Towards Sustainable Travel and Tourism in Norway, the emissions of transportation should be lowered. Following this, the polluting Hurtigruten line will be partly replaced by the planned expansion of the E39 coastal highway. The further stimulation of travel by train brings down the number of domestic flights.
In accordance with the Roadmap: Towards Sustainable Travel and Tourism in Norway, the emissions of transportation should be lowered. Following this, the polluting Hurtigruten line will be partly replaced by the planned expansion of the E39 coastal highway. The further stimulation of travel by train brings down the number of domestic flights.
