It's Monday again! If you're a regular visitor to FREEDOMtravel, you'll know that this means we're presenting short news items - on travel, tourism and camping. We sift through this week's crop of press releases and try to pick out what's most interesting to you!
Tweet
Share
Share
Pin
Share
ShareTable of contents
Great interest in winter holidays - this is where Swedes travel!
Winter travel continues to attract Swedes with Spain and Thailand as unchanged favourites. At the same time, travel agency Tickets' booking statistics show that interest in Dubai and Hurghada has increased, despite the unrest in the region. Cape Verde also stands out as a destination to watch, with an impressive 200% increase in bookings. This is where most Swedes are travelling this winter:
- Gran Canaria, Canary Islands
- Bangkok, Thailand
- Phuket, Thailand
- Tenerife Canary Islands
- Malaga, Spain
- London, United Kingdom
- Alicante, Spain
- Dubai, United Arab Emirates
- Krabi, Thailand
- Hurghada, Egypt
The Nordic region's largest group tour operator celebrates 50 years in business
The year 2025 marks a milestone for Rolfs Flyg & Buss, the largest group tour operator in the Nordic region. The Gothenburg-based company is celebrating its half-century anniversary, and the celebrations are already underway with the launch of one of its largest catalogues ever. The physical catalogue, which has grown from a few pages to over 300 pages today, is a symbol of the company's growth and a tribute to its long history.
The winter exhibition Krakow's pots has opened at Kalmar Castle
On 12 December, this year's winter exhibition opened at Kalmar Castle. Visitors will see around thirty colourful pots on loan from the Krakow Museum. Krakow's unique cribs have been included in UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage List since 2018.
Strawberry launches an exclusive Mellorum
Strawberry is once again the official hotel partner of the 2025 Eurovision Song Contest. This year, the company is taking the partnership a step further with the launch of Middle room at Quality Hotel Strawberry Arena in Solna together with Live Nation - a unique hotel room filled with glamour, party atmosphere and exclusive experiences. During the period December to March, the Middle Room will be available to book for Strawberry members and guests.
Analysis of train travel around Christmas - this day is most popular
The weeks around Christmas and New Year are a busy travel period in Sweden. Over time, one date stands out as the most common day of travel, according to a new analysis of SJ's ticket sales over the past ten years. SJ has examined data on train travel between 20 December and 5 January between 2014 and 2023, and the analysis shows that 22 December is the most common travel day. The second most common day to take the train in connection with the Christmas and New Year celebrations is 23 December.
Scandinavian darkness attracts European tourists
Recent statistics from SAS show that northern Scandinavia is attracting more and more European tourists. Three new global travel trends for 2025 go hand in hand with our dark, cold Scandinavian climate. The destinations that are increasing most here in Sweden are Kiruna, Luleå, Östersund and Sälen. Other Scandinavian destinations that have also become more popular are Alta in Norway, Bodö, Harstad/Narvik, Kirkenes, Svalbard and Tromso. Here are the trends:
- Noctourism is about experiencing the night, for example with activities such as stargazing and the Northern Lights.
- Sleep Tourism is about experiencing the best possible night's sleep, for example in a remote cabin.
- Silent Travel is based on the quest for total disconnection, and within the trend is silence, stillness and nature.
SAS launches direct flights between Copenhagen and Kiruna
More and more travellers are heading for wintry mountains and vast plains high up in the northern latitudes. To meet the growing demand for Arctic and winter tourism, SAS is launching direct flights from Copenhagen The Copenhagen-Kiruna route will operate when Kiruna is covered by snow, from 12 December 2024 to 27 April 2025.
Malmö Konsthall exhibitions during the 2025 anniversary year
Malmö Konsthall turns 50 next year. In addition to the exhibition programme with three major exhibitions, the anniversary year will be celebrated with a timeline of the Konsthall's long activities, a presentation of Klas Anshelm's architectural cure and a birthday celebration on 22 March. Here are the major exhibitions:
- Drying the Öresund (8/2 – 4/5 2025)
- Malmö konsthall 50 years (8/2 2025 – 18/1 2026)
- Mr Lars Fredrikson (24/5 – 24/8 2025)
Home cooking gets its own day in the diary
Home cooking is now getting its own day in the Swedish calendar. 26 February will be the day when it is hoped that Swedish restaurants, institutional kitchens, grocery stores and homes will focus on classic Swedish food. The initiative is backed by the White Guide, the Swedish Academy of Gastronomy, the Swedish Academy of Culinary Arts and a number of leading chefs.
Reflection of the week
Interesting that European tourists seek darkness, sleep and silence! Perhaps it is the case that troubled times bring a greater need for calm?
By the way, we think it's great that home cooking is being highlighted! Read more about Swedish food here!
Did you miss the last travel news? Read the Santa Claus, new airlines and tourism award winners
You might also like:
English (UK) 
Svenska 
Deutsch 
Suomi 
Polski
Marianne Cargus says:
Congratulations on Rolf's flight and bus, the two trips I have done with them have been fantastic and very well organised.
Thanks for the tip about the exhibition in Kalmar, I should have time to see it 🙂
16 December 2024 - 17:31
Helena says:
Glad you are happy with the trips with Rolfs Flyg & Buss. We have never travelled with them ourselves, but we have heard very good things about them. Glad also if you can make it to the exhibition in Kalmar, it sounds nice and interesting!
16 December 2024 - 17:36