Festivaler och konserter på gång - och aprilskämt i resebranschen

This week's travel news starts with a selection of all the funny April Fools' jokes that were featured in the travel industry this year. We can also tell you about some festivals and concerts coming up this spring and summer.

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Lots of April Fools' jokes in the travel industry this year

There are fewer jokes in the major newspapers on 1 April than there used to be, but the travel industry still had a lot of fun on this date. Here's a selection of this year's April Fools' Day jokes:

TUI: Launching holidays to space on 1 April 2025.
Rolfs Flyg and Buss: Organises a round-the-world trip of 80 days.
Matochreseblog: Luxury underground hotel to open in Borlänge.
First Hotels: First Hotels changes its name to Raspberry.
Jacy'z Hotel & Resort: Heavy settlement in the ground - now the skyscraper is leaning.
Strawberry: Half-price hotel rooms if you share with a stranger.

Positive signals in March for the caravan and motorhome industry

March's registration figures show a decline for caravans, while motorhomes are on a par with a year ago. "We are now starting to see some positive signals that a turnaround is underway. The fair at the beginning of the month in Stockholm was very well attended and the spring events organised by our dealers have all had great interest," says Per Nilsson, chairman of the Swedish Caravan and Motorhome Association (HRF).

Caravan registrations for March 2024: 145 caravans (compared with 184 in the corresponding month of the previous year).
Motorhome registrations for March 2024: 220 motor caravans (compared with 219 in the corresponding month of the previous year).

Malmö Senior Festival 2024 celebrates 10 years with pomp and circumstance

Although this is the first year that the former Senior Fair has been renamed the Senior Festival, it is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year. This year's anniversary festival takes place on 9-11 April at Malmömässan in Hyllie with hundreds of exhibitors and two stage programmes. The festival offers a wide range of activities such as music, lectures, taster activities, the Öresund Quilters' big 20th anniversary exhibition and much more. You can find the programme and tickets at www.seniorfestivalen.se.

No summer without Diggiloo!

Lazy days on the beach, barbecues on the terrace and glowing sunsets. Throw in some Diggiloo into the mix and you have Swedish summer at its very best. What started with three concerts in Båstad just over 20 years ago has grown into Sweden's largest summer tour and is for many a tradition as dear as both dancing around the midsummer pole and strawberries with cream.

"The community I feel every night is hard to touch, it has to be experienced to understand how much fun it is. The boundary between the stage and the audience is blurred and it becomes one big community of love, celebration, laughter, dance and music. That's the best thing about Diggiloo," says Andreas Lundstedt. Want to know more? Click here for the tour schedule.

Free concerts in Tenerife this spring

In Santa Cruz, Tenerife boasts the Auditorio de Tenerife concert hall, whose wave-like silhouette is reminiscent of the Sydney Opera House. The city has therefore come to be known as "Sydney on the Atlantic". This spring sees the return of the 'Primavera Musical' - a series of concerts performed by various brass bands. Admission is free, subject to a full house. Future concerts will be held every Sunday from April to 9 June, with the exception of Sunday 5 May.

The largest American Express lounge in the Nordic region has opened at Arlanda

On Thursday 4 April, the doors opened to American Express' newly renovated, double-sized lounge at Marknadsplatsen in Terminal 5 at Arlanda. With almost 700 square metres of Nordic-inspired design, the lounge, under the direction of star restaurateur Pontus Frithiof, is American Express' largest in the Nordic region to date. The lounge is open Monday to Friday from 5am to 6pm, Saturday from 5am to 3pm and Sunday from 5am to 6pm and welcomes all American Express Centurion and Platinum members.

The largest American Express lounge in the Nordic region. Photo: American Express

Reflection of the week

Weather-wise, spring feels reluctant this year, but now it's coming anyway, and it's positive with festivals and concerts to look forward to! By the way, we thought it was really funny with all the April Fool's jokes in the travel industry. Did you see any more jokes? Did you go to any?

Did you miss last week's travel news? Read the Sustainable campsites, AI for travel planning and trending destinations