The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has now extended the travel advisory to non-essential travel outside the EU/EEA/Schengen and is also urging caution. Perhaps it is not surprising that the travel news is largely about Sweden.
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MFA extends travel advice
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs decided on 26 January to extend the advice against non-essential travel to all countries outside the EU/EEA/Schengen area. The decision is valid until 15 April 2021, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs:
You should carefully consider whether now is the right time to travel. Many countries still have closed borders or extensive restrictions on entry and exit, quarantine regulations and curfews. There is a lot of uncertainty and it is not possible to predict when it will be possible to travel safely and freely around the world due to the coronavirus pandemic and its consequences.
Any Swede who decides to travel abroad should follow these three pieces of advice: read up before travelling, follow local rules at the destination and plan for the return journey.
As a result of the pandemic - increased interest in Dalarna in 2020
The hospitality industry looks back on a tough 2020, but when Visit Dalarna compiles the digital year, positive trends can be seen. The number of visitors to visitdalarna.se increased significantly compared to 2019 and reached 1.4 million in 2020, indicating a significant increase in interest in Dalarna as a destination. In addition, large increases in web traffic can be seen on the pages related to outdoor activities, especially hiking and cycling.
Viking Line's climate-smart vessel Viking Glory has been launched
On 26 January, Viking Line's new climate-smart vessel Viking Glory was launched at XSI's shipyard in Sweden. XiamenChina. The new Viking Glory is larger than the environmental pioneer Viking Grace, but is still expected to consume about ten per cent less fuel, making it one of the world's most energy-efficient ships. The vessel will enter daily service early next year on the Stockholm-Mariehamn-Åbo route.
Quality Hotel in new collaboration with karaoke giant Singa
The hotel chain Quality Hotel has entered into a new collaboration with the company Singa. Together they offer experiences in private karaoke rooms at selected hotels in Sweden. The offer is timed to coincide with the Swedish schlager festival that starts in February. Between 6 February and 13 March, selected Quality Hotels in Sweden will offer special karaoke rooms. In the rooms, guests will have access to karaoke equipment and Singa's catalogue of over 80,000 songs.
Gothenburg City Museum plans for a different kind of anniversary year
Gothenburg turns 400 in 2021, with its birthday on 4 June. On 6 February, the jubilee year 2021 was supposed to start at the City Museum, but the pandemic intervened and the museum is now closed without an opening date. In the spring, programme activities at the City Museum will be fully digital. Planned exhibitions in 2021:
- Inzoomat, opens when the museum opens its doors
- The thing about Gothenburg, new basic exhibition, opens 4 June
- Gothenburg tells us, new outdoor exhibition, opens on 4 June at Gustaf Adolfs torg.
Reflection of the week
We will probably have to put up with the pandemic and uncertainty for a while longer. It feels like we have to hope for good weather and aim for outdoor experiences in Sweden this spring.
Did you miss the last travel news? Read the Outdoors, advertising ban - and where Swedes are travelling this summer
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Kenneth+Risberg says:
Thank you for the Newsletter!
Regarding the pandemic and travel, it does not feel so urgent to plan anything for this summer either. Had hoped that the vaccination would start according to plan but not. Not enough doses mean that it will probably take until after the summer before all groups x 2 have received their shots.
With my current project for the summer, it will be another swimming holiday at home.
01 February 2021 - 7:49
Helena says:
Great to hear that the newsletter arrived! We are still hoping for summer, but we are not sure. The good thing about a motorhome is that it can be redirected. Curious about your project for the summer?
01 February 2021 - 18:47
Across the board says:
These are wise words from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Here in our part of Spain, decisions come quickly. They can have a meeting on Tuesday and the decision will be executed on Wednesday or at the weekend and there are big revolutionary decisions (such as the closure of shops/restaurants) We sit quietly in the apartment for a while longer, before we start rolling home and hope that it eases somewhat in the spring.
01 February 2021 - 9:41
Helena says:
Yes, it is of course wise to be a little bit about oneself and around oneself in these times! I understand that decisions can be made quite quickly in Spain (and perhaps in many other places).
01 February 2021 - 18:48
Ama de casa says:
We will receive new information on 15 February, such as whether restaurants will be allowed to reopen. But it is important to keep up, the restrictions can change from one day to the next without much advance notice.
Those big cruise ships get really GIGANTIC when you see them on dry land...
Have a great start to the week and month!
01 February 2021 - 9:51
Helena says:
Yes, I have realised that it can change quickly, not easy to agree! And yes I know, we also thought our houseboat looked big on land 😉.
01 February 2021 - 18:49
Daniel on FlyingDryden says:
Good for Dalarna. I hope they have changed their strategy of using a hashtag to try to steal free pictures from people on Instagram as well. 😒😁
01 February 2021 - 12:17
Helena says:
Yes, fun! But really!!! The hashtag was a rather dubious move.
01 February 2021 - 18:50
BP says:
Of course, the UD advises against "pleasure travellers". I really don't understand people who go anyway. I would never take such a risk.
I can imagine that it is not only the visit valleys that have received more visitors. I mean many of you travelled "digitally" during the summer/autumn, just to "get away for a while".
It was brave of Viking Line to invest in such a large ship. They must really believe that soon everything will be back to normal.
01 February 2021 - 17:24
Helena says:
We are also cautious in these times. When things ease up, we would like to travel, but we will follow recommendations. And yes, digital has been just right this time!!!
01 February 2021 - 18:51