The Christmas holidays are over and it's time for travel news! On this Monday, we can tell you about a possible Covid passport, as well as an increase in travel bookings for the summer - both to the Alps and to sun and beaches.
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Increased optimism for summer travelling abroad
Swedes seem to be more optimistic about summer travel than before, writes TUI in a press release. Last week, more than twice as many (146 per cent) trips were booked than the week before. If you compare the number of bookings during a week a month ago, the figure has tripled. Top 5 destinations for the summer:
Sharp increase in bookings to the Alps this summer
The level of bookings at STS Alpresor has never been so high for the summer as early as this year. Compared to the same time in 2019 (before the outbreak of covid-19), bookings are 250 per cent higher. Winter ski trips are also currently seeing an increase in bookings. It is mainly Bad Gastein in Austria that attracts summer travellers, closely followed by Italy's Cervinia. Top 5 most popular summer activities in the Alps:
- Hiking
- mountain bike
- Yoga
- Golf
- Summer skiing
Rolfs Flyg & Buss buys charter company Solresor
Sweden's largest group tour operator Rolfs Flyg & Buss acquires the charter organiser Solresor. Over the past 45 years, the organiser has refined the concept of round trips. Now it wants to take the charter industry to the next level. "Solresor is a good and strong brand closely associated with sun, sea and adventure holidays. It stands for quality at the right price and fits into our portfolio", says CEO Emanuel Karlsson of Rolfs Flyg & Buss, who now also takes over as CEO of Solresor.
Premiere of SJ's new night train between Gothenburg/Stockholm and Umeå.
On the evening of Sunday 13 December, three night trains rolled out of Gothenburg, Stockholm and Umeå for the first time in a new service arrangement. This means better departure and arrival times for night train travellers to and from Sundsvall, Härnösand, Kramfors, Örnsköldsvik, Nordmaling, Umeå and not least Gothenburg, which can be reached more than 1.5 hours earlier than with previous night trains.
Sharp drop in Christmas eating
Christmas eating is down by 90 per cent this year compared to last year, according to a Novus survey commissioned by Visita. Only one in twenty say that they will be eating Christmas table in a private context this year. Even fewer - 3 per cent - state that they will be invited to a Christmas party by their employer. December is normally a good month for restaurants with a Christmas table and many visits in connection with the Christmas trade. This year, much of this important income disappears and the risk of more bankruptcies and job losses increases.
Covidpass will make it easier to fly
The hard-pressed airline industry wants to develop a "covid passport" to prove that travellers are not infected with the coronavirus or to confirm that they have been vaccinated. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) says it will have an app ready early next year. IATA predicts that the airline industry in Europe will lose a total of $27 billion in 2020. Covid passports are intended to encourage people to fly and avoid quarantine at their destination.
Reflection of the week
This week it seems that the travel industry is starting to be positive about the upcoming summer. For the sake of the industry, it is to be hoped that travel will start, and certainly many people are hoping to be able to travel again.
Did you miss last week's travel news? Read the New mobile phone habits - and camping chain enters Öland
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BP says:
Finally, some positive thinking. I guess most people firmly believe that the pandemic is over in June / July 2021. Instead of booking at the last minute and being without a trip because of the pressure, you want to be sure that you have everything booked in time. In addition, the travel industry has introduced quite generous cancellation rules as well.
I've never been a fan of the Christmas table, but this year when I can't get one, I miss the Christmas table ...
14 December 2020 - 19:34
Lena - good for the soul says:
I think a lot of people hope and believe in travelling next year. And so do we. We are in the process of booking a safari in October. The trip that did not happen this year. We will see how it goes.
Hug Lena
23 December 2020 - 6:26