Direktflyg, campingapp med community och aprilskämt

It's travel news time again, like every Monday here at freedomtravel.se. We browse the week's press releases and deliver a selection of news on the topics of travel, camping and tourism. This week, we'll also have some April Fool's jokes!

Table of contents

BRA opens direct line between Ängelholm Helsingborg and Visby

BRA is opening a new direct route between Ängelholm Helsingborg Airport and Visby. The new route offers departures three days a week during the summer period between weeks 26-32. In addition to this route, BRA will operate five more direct routes to/from Visby in 2022, including an international route between Helsinki and Visby.

SAS launches new direct routes from Stockholm to Tivat and Pärnu

SAS is launching two new destinations for the summer season: the coastal town of Tivat in southeastern Montenegro (12 departures from the end of June), and the holiday resort of Pärnu in Estonia (seven weeks during the summer). The airline has already announced that it will start flying directly to the Polish capital in the spring. Warsaw and in early June to Toronto, Canada.

First Camp acquires campsites in Dalarna and Norway

First Camp, Scandinavia's largest camping group, acquires Leksand Resort AB, which includes Leksand Sommarland, catering, cottage village and camping at the five-star Leksand Strand, as well as the hotel and conference business Moskogen and the restaurant business at Tegera Arena. The chain now also acquires GOL Campingsenter in Hallingdal, Norway. The group thus has 61 destinations with a combined annual turnover of approximately SEK 1 billion.

Decline for camper vans in March - despite high level of interest

March's registration figures show a decline for both caravans and motorhomes, but there are explanations according to the Swedish Caravan Industry Association. Motorhomes had abnormally high registration in March 2021 because the tax rules meant that unsold vehicles were also registered. Other factors include the lateness of Easter and the uncertainty of the external environment. However, interest in mobile accommodation remains high. "We are seeing double-digit booking increases in many destinations," says Peter Jansson, acting CEO of SCR Svensk Camping.

The world's first one-app community for the camping industry

Now Hollistay is launching "Camp & Talk" in its app, a new social (local) network for the camping industry, where campsite hosts and guests can find and communicate with each other. Guests check in to Camp & Talk in the app when they arrive at a campsite or pitch. This way, they can connect with campsite hosts and other campers at the same site, get tips on things to do, maybe borrow some charcoal or find someone looking for travelling companions.

Pelle Svanslös comes to Furuvik

This year's big news at Furuvik is one of Sweden's most famous and beloved children's characters - Pelle Svanslös! This summer, visitors to Furuvik will experience a unique Pelle Svanslös performance on the Little Stage, meet Pelle and his friends, buy sweets in the shop "Maja Gräddnos Gosaker" and go on a (s)cat hunt in the park. Furuvik opens its doors for the season on 14 May and has recently released tickets for all days of the summer.

April Fool's joke among this week's travel news

There were some press releases on 1 April that were exciting, but that we don't really dare to believe, haha... Here is a selection!

Foreign objects found during excavation work at Skåne Zoo. "We don't know yet what we've found in the ground, but it's a lot of stuff that's not from our time," says Glenn André Viste Bøe, CEO of Skåne Zoo.
Forget the iPhone, here comes the Wine Phone! The Winery hotel launches en smartphone with wine tasting, hail detector and dating app among its features. Elon Must has been hired as developer.
Now you can apply for a job as a crocodile, witch or princess. Meeting organiser Happy Tammsvik has found a solution to the staff shortage and wants to include everyone.

Wine straight from the app ... so handy!

Reflection of the week

A little April Fool's joke among the press releases is refreshing! Interesting about the new feature in Hollistay's app - it will be exciting to see how it works and is received. What do you reckon?

Did you miss the last travel news? Read the Virtual resident and winner of the camping award