Then it was Monday again, which as usual means travel news here at FREEDOMtravel. This week we can tell you about a new travel fair and a big travel survey. Stay tuned!
Table of contents
Warmer weekend trips this autumn
Swedish travellers have new favourites when it comes to weekend trips, according to recent booking statistics from the travel agency Ticket. Amsterdam, which was previously a strong favourite, has surprisingly disappeared from the top ten list. Now it is mainly warm destinations that apply to Swedes, although the favourite London remains at the top. This is where we go on weekend trips in the autumn:
TUI expands destination offer from regional airports
After a summer with high booking levels in almost all parts of the country, TUI is investing heavily in the range of destinations from regional airports for the coming season. In the 2024 summer programme, TUI is launching new destinations from 11 regional airports. Here are TUI's charter novelties from regional airports in summer 2024.
- Halmstad: Turkey (Antalya), Crete, Kos, Cyprus, Mallorca, Rhodes
- Jönköping: Turkey (Antalya), Kos, Cyprus, Majorca, Rhodes
- Kalmar: Turkey (Antalya), Kos, Cyprus, Majorca, Rhodes
- Karlstad: Turkey (Antalya), Crete, Kos, Cyprus, Mallorca, Rhodes
- Luleå: Bulgaria (Burgas), Sicily (Catania), Kos, Croatia (Split).
- Malmö: Turkey (Antalya), Kos, Majorca, Rhodes
- Norrköping: Kos
- Skellefteå: Bulgaria (Burgas), Crete, Sicily (Catania), Kos, Cyprus, Mallorca, Croatia (Split).
- Växjö: Kos
- Umeå: Bulgaria (Burgas), Sicily (Catania), Kos, Cyprus, Mallorca, Croatia (Split).
- Örebro: Kos
Senior Fair expands with Travel Fair 2024
On 1-3 October 2024, Resemässan will be held for the first time as part of Seniormässan Stockholm. There will be a mix of international and domestic destinations, tourist agencies, hotels, cruise lines, tour operators, bus companies, activity companies and others exhibiting at the fair. "To summarise, the entire travel industry is welcome," says project manager Leon Giannaridis. The fair will also feature a stage full of travel stories.
Bo på Lantgårds members certified as "Sustainable Farm"
"Bo på lantgård" has developed a system that provides a clear sustainability profile. By the end of 2023, all affiliated farms will be certified as "Sustainable Farms", which is supported by the Swedish Board of Agriculture and the European Agricultural Fund. Bo på Lantgård is a brand for holiday accommodation in a farm environment, with about 75 unique farms. As a guest, if you see the "Sustainable Farm" award, you know that the accommodation meets the sustainability requirements on various points such as energy, food, staff, local community, water, waste management, transport, chemistry/cleaning.
Major travel survey summarises travel in 2023
When the online travel company eDreams ODIGEO, which includes the Travellink brand, sums up 2023's travel, it shows that travel to the continent is the most attractive to Swedes, with cities like London at the top, Stockholm, Paris, Barcelona and Amsterdam. The statistics also show that spontaneous travel is high, with 42% booking up to 15 days before departure. Here are some travel trends for 2023:
- Shorter journeys: 6 out of 10 stay up to a week and 36 per cent settle for 3-4 days.
- Soloresor: To decide for yourself and get to know yourself.
- Wellness holidays: 73% are planning a trip to boost wellbeing, such as exercise, mental relaxation or detox from work or alcohol.
- TV and film to inspire travel: Many are curious about places they have come to love on screen.
- Social media as a source of travel inspiration: Social media is important and TikTok is expected to be the most influential for travellers.
SkiStar Åre opens for skiing from Åreskutan on 17 November.
Swedish skiers can look forward to an early start to the winter season as SkiStar Åre has announced that it will open for skiing from the top with a total of 890 metres of vertical drop right from the start. SkiStar, the market leader in alpine mountain tourism in Scandinavia, opened for skiing in Vemdalen and Sälen this past autumn holiday weekend. On 17 November, these destinations will also open more ski slopes and lifts, including Gustavbacken in Lindvallen, Sälen.
Winter Lights opens at Gunnebo Castle and Gardens
The unique Winter Lights concept opens at Gunnebo Castle and Gardens in Mölndal on 17 November. Through light installations, you can now experience the mighty sphinxes that once guarded the castle. In addition to light installations and decorations, Winter Lights offers a soundscape for an overall sensory experience. The walk is 1.5 kilometres long and takes about 90 minutes. Guests, who book in advance, walk in 20-minute intervals to avoid congestion. There are food and drink stalls along the trail.
Reflection of the week
The Senior Fair has always had a strong focus on travelling - you can read about our participation in the Senior Fair 2023 here - so it will be interesting to see the development towards a more defined travel fair. Regarding the travel survey, we are thinking about this with TikTok. Is it still most popular among younger people or has it started to be used more among older people as well?
Did you miss last week's travel news? Read the New world heritage site - and this is where Swedes are flying this winter
Anna Nilsson Spets says:
Tiktok näää, feels like it is mostly for younger and so-called influencers, thinks it is good enough for me fejjan and insta. Yes, it is surprising that Amsterdam is gone from the list, but from what I have understood from the news down here, it has been overcrowded with tourism, maybe that's why?
13 November 2023 - 6:14