Today is Monday and we welcome a new week, along with this week's travel news. This week we can tell you about a lighthouse cruise, a festival train and a sports capital. Stay tuned!
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Tourism in Sweden continues to grow
For the third year in a row, guest nights in Sweden. In 2024, a total of 69 million guest nights were recorded, an increase of 0.7% from the previous year. Accommodation revenue increased by 2.7% to reach EUR 32.5 billion. The type of establishment that grew the most was the commercial brokerage of private holiday cottages and apartments. The regions with the highest growth were Norrbotten, followed by Värmland and Dalarna.
Continued growth for Swedish campsites
Taking your caravan or motorhome to a Swedish campsite remains very popular, according to the Swedish Caravan and Motorhome Industry Association. Statistics from the Swedish Agency for Economic and Regional Growth show that the number of guest nights in the country increased by just over 155,000 last year, totalling 15,147,199 during the first eight months of the year. Västra Götaland had by far the most camping nights, followed by Kalmar and Skåne. The trend is not only strong in Sweden. In Germany, interest in mobile life is reported to be at a record high.
Birka Gotland invites you to a unique lighthouse cruise
A total of 90 lighthouses in 21 hours - that's what the Baltic Sea cruiser Birka Gotland offers on 20 May. Tickets for the Lighthouse and Archipelago Cruise, which will take travellers on a unique tour of the sea band between Sweden and Åland, has now been released. Birka Gotland is Sweden's new pleasure cruiser with experiences on the Baltic Sea every day. This spring's themed cruises cover everything from music to literature, gaming, genealogy and hunting.
Flight searches to Åre increase after the premiere of Åremorden
According to a survey by momondo, 27% of Swedish travellers say they get their travel inspiration from series and films. And the trend seems to be continuing internationally. In the week following the premiere of the Swedish murder mystery The oar murders has flight searches to Östersund - the nearest airport - increased by 21 per cent compared to the same period last year. The series has also topped Netflix's list of the most watched non-English language titles at the moment.
More people want to experience the Northern Lights in Sweden
According to Hotels.com's 2025 trend report, one of this year's travel trends is
travelling long distances to experience natural phenomena such as the Northern Lights. Swedish locations offering opportunities to see the Northern Lights have seen significant increases. Jokkmokk (+120%), Kiruna (+20%) and Abisko (+20%) are particularly popular destinations, while searches for Sweden have increased by 25 per cent. Now Hotels.com lists Swedish hotels where you can experience the Northern Lights, and which have seen an increase in global searches:
- Peace & Quiet Hotel, Jokkmokk (searches up 105 %)
- Abisko Tourist Centre STF, Abisko (searches up 20 %)
- Hotel Fjället, Björkliden (searches up 10 %)
- Aurora RiverCamp Glass Igloos and Cabins, Jukkasjärvi (searches up 5 %)
SJ launches festival train to Sweden Rock Festival
SJ, Live Nation Sweden and Luger, the country's leading concert organiser, have decided to deepen their cooperation with the aim of increasing the proportion of travel to and from concerts and events by train. Therefore, several initiatives are now being made on chartered trains, including festival trains to Sweden Rock Festival, from Stockholm. This will be a train full of activity for those who want to start the festival a little earlier.
Tallinn is the European Capital of Sport 2025
Tallinn has been named European Capital of Sport 2025 by European Capitals and Cities of Sport Association. Thanks to this, a packed schedule awaits you throughout the year. Major sporting events include the Tallinn Marathon, Ironman Tallinn, the European Youth Olympic Festival and the Beach Volley World Tour. The city will also host international tournaments in e-sports, swimming and athletics. Find out more at: Tallinn Sports 2025.
MSC World America ready for the Caribbean
In the spring of 2025, MSC Cruises' new flagship will be launched, MSC World America, which has now completed sea trials in the Atlantic. The ship is thus entering its final phase ahead of the launch and premiere season in the Caribbean. MSC World America will have its home port in Miami at the company's new cruise terminal - the world's largest of its kind.
Royal Caribbean reveals the name of the third Icon Class ship
Royal Caribbean has taken the next step and is now introducing Legend of the Seas. The new Icon Class ship will make its Caribbean debut in November 2026 with cruises from Fort Lauderdale, Florida. But first, a summer in Europe awaits with departures from Barcelona. The new Icon Class ship is currently being built in Turku, Finland's shipbuilding centre. Legend of the Seas will offer, among other things:
- Crown's Edge - a combination of suspension bridge, climbing course and adrenaline-fuelled ride.
- Category 6 - the largest water park at sea.
- Seven different pools, including Royal Bay, the largest pool at sea, and the infinity pool at Hideaway Beach.
- Swim & Tonic - the largest pool bar at sea.
- Surfside - an area for families with young children.
reflection of the week
This is perhaps the third week in a row that the travel news has featured a destination that has gained popularity because of a film or TV series. In other words, a hot trend! If you like to follow in the footsteps of the film world, read on for these 30 filming locations in Sweden. Other recurring trends - which are constantly being confirmed - are the Northern Lights and cruises.
Did you miss the last travel news? Read the Streaming tourism, sports holidays and Europe's best cycling route
You might also like:
Ended lockdown, stricter rules and rowing across the Atlantic Ocean
Hammock hotel and the world's longest suspension bridge
Certification of campsites - and Sweden's best summer cities
#Kommaframöl and the winners of the Grand Travel Award
Favourite countries for camping, best food & most googled beaches
Tokyo, gastronomy and influencers causing discontent
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BP says:
Yes, luxury cruises are really in. That trend started about 10 years ago, and then it was mostly rich pensioners who cruised. But it has changed (for the better) since then, it seems.
Great fun with Tallinn as a sports city. I'm always happy when small countries and smaller cities get "big events". Good for business and the hotel industry, among other things.
Did not know that little Åland has such a large shipyard that can build such a large cruise ship as Legend of the Seas. WOW, there I have learnt something new again.
24 February 2025 - 18:23
Helena says:
Agree that it is fun that Tallinn is sported and gets several major events! Legend of the Seas is being built in Turku according to the press release, but it's fun that it's being built here in the Nordic region!
25 February 2025 - 10:47
Ditte says:
Yes, I can enjoy cruises. But not on these giant ships that run around the Caribbean. Have been on two cruises there and no hit. If three giant ships come to a small island at the same time, it will not be fun. However, very much liked the two-week cruise we did in South America and at the same time rounded Cape Horn. A ship that was very nice but not gigantic, because these can not get around here. They are too high. Have also cruised in Asia and some in Europe but then opted out of the largest ships..Feels impersonal to me.
Åland has always built ships and sailing ships and already at the end of the 19th century sailed to Australia and home via Cape Horn. So fun that they have now built Legend of the Seas. However, no ship I would pay to cruise with.
Tallinn as a sports capital feels good and also that Swedish tourism is on an even stronger rise.
As for the lighthouse cruise, we had already booked it. Was involved in a similar one several years ago, then also with Birka. However, Birka Stockholm. But it looked like the now refreshed Birka Gotland. Can tell you that the tickets there are soon sold out.
24 February 2025 - 23:31
Helena says:
Exciting cruises you made! There are really different variants - large and small ships, different types of destinations ... Glad you already booked the lighthouse cruise! It does not surprise me that it is almost sold out, fun concept!
25 February 2025 - 10:48
Ditte says:
Saw that I missed that the ship was built in Turku... Read too fast... But even Finland is historically also very good at building ships so fun that Turku got the chance to build this magnificent ship.
24 February 2025 - 23:47
Helena says:
True, it's great that it's being built here in the North!
25 February 2025 - 10:49
Marianne Cargus says:
The lighthouse cruise is tempting, but whether it will happen is uncertain, I have never really been someone who likes travelling, but there have been a few in any case,
25 February 2025 - 9:24
Helena says:
It's different what you like! Then again, "travel" doesn't always have to be so far away ... the lighthouse cruise sounds charming!
25 February 2025 - 10:50
Monnah says:
The lighthouse cruise sounds great! Wow! I've only been on one cruise (besides a bunch of Silja and Birka) and it was a week around Hawaii before we moved to the US last. We did it with three children aged 11, 14 and 16 and although it was a difficult time to find things everyone liked, the cruise was perfect. The kids could stay on the ship (read the oldest son) on the days the day trips did not attract. I had expected some "so-so" food, but it was both good and varied. All you can eat soft ice cream also suited both children and adults.
25 February 2025 - 9:51
Helena says:
I also like the idea of the lighthouse cruise!
What a wonderful cruise you made around Hawaii!
25 February 2025 - 10:51
The Adventure of the Future says:
Turku shipyard has always been successful and built many fine ships. It is so nice to read that tourism works as well as it does in the northern countries. I am not a cruiser myself, so to speak, although I have cruised as a staff on board both motorised and sailed ships.
Here we see cruise ships every day, today there are three big boats in the harbour.
Have a good time in every way and thanks for the nice posts!
26 February 2025 - 10:43