Today is the day of the Grand Travel Award gala and awards ceremony. This will be a short news item today and later in the week we will return with a more detailed report from the event. Today we can also give you tips on affordable sun holidays and tell you where Swedes are travelling during the sports holidays. Other news is that more long-distance tourists are travelling to Sweden and that First Camp is once again launching its "Camping Tour Ticket".
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Grand Travel Award 2018
Today, 12 February 2018, it's time for the Grand Travel Award in Stockholm. A seminar will be organised in the afternoon and in the evening there will be a gala and awards ceremony, where tour operators, hotels, flights, shipping companies, etc. will compete for the prizes in various categories. The new "Sustainability Award" will also be presented and the destination of the year will be announced. We will be there and will of course report back.
More long-distance tourists to Sweden
Last year, foreign tourists made 63 million overnight stays in Sweden, according to the Swedish Agency for Economic and Regional Growth. This is an increase of 1.2 million or 2 per cent compared to the previous year, and it is the long-distance guests who are increasing. In 2017, the number of guest nights from the USA increased by 44 per cent, China by 14 per cent and the Netherlands by 12 per cent. However, the number of guest nights from Norway and Finland has decreased.
Where Swedes are travelling for their sports holidays
According to booking statistics from Resia, Miami, London and the Canary Islands are the winners as sports holiday destinations. The top list shows that Miami continues to grow (+15 %) in popularity and is joined by more cities in Florida. The Canary Islands are hard to beat among charter holidays, but hot newcomers such as Phu Quoc in Vietnam and Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic challenge. In addition, the Egypt back for the first time in a long time.
Most affordable trips to the sun
Solar travel specialist eBeach.se has mapped out which destinations offer the best value for money this year if you want to spend a week in the sun. The report shows that Malta (a super nice destination that we think is underrated!) and the Spanish region of Costa del Sol are the cheapest destinations this year. In third place is the coastal region of Costa Blanca, where resorts such as Alicante and Benidorm are located.
- Malta
- Costa del Sol, Spain
- Costa Blanca, Spain
- Costa Brava, Spain
- Halkidiki, Greece
First Camp's Camping Tour ticket is back!
The camping chain First Camp writes that their "Campingtour ticket" is back. The ticket gives campers in motorhomes, caravans and tents the opportunity to buy 10 overnight stays at once for SEK 1,600.
The collaboration with the German camping chain Regenbogen is the key to offering 24 destinations in Sweden, Denmark and Germany. Tickets can be purchased at all First Camp and Regenbogen sites and at Caravan Stockholm on 15-18 February.
Did you miss the last travel news? Read the Winners and losers, trains to the mountains and direct flights to Albania
You might also like:
Kayak vending machine, museum of the year and motorhome with a lift
Austria opens, Elmia defections and this year's Göta Canal trends
Cruises, archipelago trips and more travel bookings
Opening amusement parks, train travel cards and camping records
Camping records, flights to Phuket and the abolition of face masks!
Christening, bridge exhibition and new motorhome association
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Lena - good for the soul says:
It would be interesting to know what this 44% increase in visitors from the US is due to. Could it be Trump's "anti-advertising" of the crazy things "happening" in Sweden? 🙂
Have a great start to the week!
Hug Lena
12 February 2018 - 6:14
Helena says:
Haha, it would be interesting if it was due to Trump 😉 BP, writes a little further down that it might be due to cruises?
12 February 2018 - 22:37
Marina says:
Interesting reading. It sounds like it's time to head for Malta...
12 February 2018 - 7:19
Helena says:
We like Malta, an island nation that has a lot to offer! I don't think it's very cheap on the spot, but you can find cheap airline tickets so that probably plays a role.
12 February 2018 - 22:39
Johnny Friskilä says:
Have fun at the Grand Travel Award tonight! Hmmm, maybe the increase from the US is due to more direct flights? I guess it's not just us who go there but also those who come here. In addition, the dollar is expensive and the krona is relatively weak so they get value for money simply.
12 February 2018 - 8:42
Helena says:
Yes, it can be like that! Or cruises that BP writes about further down? Or both and? Hope you also had a really nice evening tonight!
12 February 2018 - 22:40
Liniz Travel says:
But what fun then we will see you tonight! I will come to the mingle / gala! Hugs
12 February 2018 - 8:42
Helena says:
Nice to see you tonight Lina!
12 February 2018 - 22:41
Travel Friday says:
Interesting that Egypt is on the rise again. Enjoy the gala, looking forward to the report.
12 February 2018 - 8:57
Helena says:
Report on Wednesday morning!
12 February 2018 - 22:42
Britt-Marie Lundgren says:
I was a bit surprised to see Malta at the top of the list of affordable destinations. Perhaps it's a destination to look at for a week this autumn.
Good to hear that Sweden is growing as a destination for foreign tourists.
Have a nice evening!
12 February 2018 - 9:17
Helena says:
We have not found Malta to be very cheap on the ground, but you can find very cheap flight tickets. I suspect that this is what affects the overall price.
12 February 2018 - 23:07
Ama de casa says:
What surprises me is that the Costa del Sol should be cheaper than the Costa Blanca? I don't think so, although perhaps "best value for money" is not just about price?
Nerja on the Costa del Sol does have cheap pizzas... 😉.
Have a good start to the week there at the gala 🙂 .
12 February 2018 - 9:36
Helena says:
It may be that there are cheaper airline tickets to one place and that's what affects maybe ...?
12 February 2018 - 23:08
åsa in åsele says:
There shouldn't be any long-distance travel during the sports holidays... a week goes by quickly and you don't have time to go to Thailand or Vietnam.
Around here, i.e. Västerbotten, the visits from Norway increased last summer, many Norwegians live on campsites in Sweden and for those who live in Northern Norway, Västerbotten and Jämtland are well located 🙂 .
The ICA store in Hemavan is making a substantial profit because so many Norwegians are travelling across the border to shop, as many things are apparently cheaper in Sweden. I think more Swedish towns along the Norwegian border are experiencing the same thing.
Fun with the gala 🙂 will be fun to go free ride to follow you.
12 February 2018 - 15:49
Helena says:
I agree with you here Åsa. I also think that a week is too short for long distance destinations. Glad you noticed an increase in tourists from Norway! I understand that they like to tour there. It's close and affordable for them! We'll report on the gala as soon as we can, i.e. on Wednesday 🙂.
12 February 2018 - 23:10
BP says:
Fun with more long distance tourists especially from the US. Presumably it is the cruises that are behind the increase.
The fact that so many Norwegians are travelling across the border to Sweden may be because it is so cheap here compared to Norway.
Like Ama, I am surprised that the Costa del Sol "beats" the Costa Blanca. The Costa Blanca has a warmer climate all year round and is cheaper. But, but...
Enjoy the gala tonight. Looking forward to the report:-)
12 February 2018 - 19:03
Helena says:
Interesting thought that it may have to do with cruises. I did not think of that myself, but maybe it is? Another suggestion among the comments is about more direct flights between Sweden and the US, which should affect both directions. As for the Costa del Sol and Costa Blanca, I have no real control, but could it have to do with airfares? Will return with a report on the gala 🙂
12 February 2018 - 23:12