Kayak vending machine, museum of the year and motorhome with a lift

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Rent a kayak from a vending machine, yes, but why not? We can also announce which museums are nominated for 'museum of the year' and show a very different campervan from China. It's time for this week's travel news!

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Self-service kayak hire now available

Just in time for spring 2021, KAYAKOMAT, a self-service kayak rental service, will be launched across the country. Already in March there will be KAYAKOMATs in Stockholm and Gothenburg. Book online, unlock the kayak with the code you received and a wonderful paddling trip awaits you. Swedish Point65 Kayak Centers, which already operates some 20 manned kayak rentals around Sweden, is the company behind and the first to offer self-service kayak rentals.

They could be Museum of the Year 2021

Grenna Museum, Livrustkammaren in Stockholm and Norrköping City Museum have been nominated for the Museum of the Year award. The Swedish Museums and the Swedish ICOM (International Council of Museums) are behind the prestigious award, which will be presented by Minister of Culture Amanda Lind during the Museums' Spring Meeting on 27 April.

The tourism industry lost 50 billion to the pandemic in 2020

Domestic tourism in Sweden fell by SEK 50 billion during the pandemic months of 2020, compared to the same period the previous year. This represents a decrease of more than a quarter, according to calculations by the industry organisation Visita. The calculations are based on data from Statistics Sweden and the Swedish Agency for Economic and Regional Growth and show that more than 100 000 people in tourism have lost their jobs, been given notice or been laid off. With the recent restrictions, the situation has become even worse. This is reported by several media outlets.

Tallink Grupp reports net loss of EUR 108.3 million

Tallink Grupp has published its financial results for 2020 and reported an unaudited net loss of €108.3 million for the financial year 2020 (net profit of €49.7 million in 2019) as a result of travel restrictions, closed borders and a state of emergency due to the global COVID-19 pandemic. Despite this, the company made investments of €100.1 million, mainly in its fleet.

Apollo opens Plakias village in Crete - for families and lovers of Greece

In the summer of 2021, Apollo is launching another destination in Crete, the village of Plakias on the south coast of the Libyan Sea. Plakias is small-scale and invites nature experiences with barren mountains, olive groves, pine forests and an azure sea. Here Apollo also inaugurates a completely new hotel, Alegria, a new addition to Apollo's popular family hotel, Mondo Family. During two weeks in early July, special opening weeks are organised at the hotel.

New chain of motorhome and caravan stores could be the biggest in the Nordics

Five players are establishing what could become Norway's and perhaps the Nordic region's largest retail chain for motorhomes and caravans. Turnover is expected to be NOK 1.6 billion in 2021. The company Tellus caravan og fritid AS was registered just before Christmas, but has so far been an industry secret. This reports bobilverden.no.

Chinese company makes two-storey motorhome with lift

GM's Chinese partner SAIC has produced the Maxus Life Home V90 Villa Edition two-storey motorhome. When you drive around in the motorhome, it looks relatively ordinary, but when you stop for the night, you can expand it into a two-storey home. In addition, the motorhome extends to the side. To get to the upper floor, with glass walls, you can take a lift. The price is reportedly around SEK 3.5 million.

Reflection of the week

The travel industry has certainly had a tough time - and still does - but there is a sense of optimism when it comes to outdoor recreation, camping and mobile holidays.

Did you miss the last travel news? Read the Weekend packages, first crane and COVID-19 test requirements

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