Streaming tourism, sports holidays and Europe's best cycling route

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Monday, a new week and - of course - travel news here at FREEDOMtravel. Every week, we receive a large number of press releases in our inbox and we do our best to sift and shorten them - so that you get the week's travel news in an easily digestible summary: FREEDOMtravel NEWS.

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Finncanopus after 1 year in service - doubled passenger numbers

On 16 February 2025, Finnlines ships celebrated Finncanopus one year in service. Together with the sister ship Finnsirius the new Superstar class vessels have not only increased passenger numbers but also reduced the carbon footprint of the route. Both vessels are specially designed for the unique archipelago route, with capacity for up to 1,100 passengers and 5,200 cargo metres each. Over the past year, passenger numbers on the Kapellskär-Långnäs-Naantali route have more than doubled.

Europe attracts during the sports holidays - Amsterdam and Paris increase

According to the booking statistics of the travel agency Tickets, Swedes are increasingly choosing to travel within Europe during the sports holidays. Major cities such as Amsterdam and Paris have become particularly popular and the number of bookings to Amsterdam has increased by almost 200 per cent compared to the sports holiday 2024. The most booked destinations during the sports holiday weeks:

1. Gran Canaria
2. Alicante
3. Malaga
4. Amsterdam
5. Barcelona
6. Paris
7. London
8. Bangkok
9. Tenerife
10. Phuket

TV shows rule our travelling: White Lotus effect

Films and TV shows are increasingly influencing our travel habits - a phenomenon known as set-jetting. The White Lotus is a clear example, according to TUI. When season two premiered in autumn 2022 and was set on Sicily, Google searches for the destination more than doubled. Season three, set in Thailand, premieres on 17 February.

Streaming tourism fills popular hotels

Two-thirds of global travellers say that films and series have inspired their travel destinations, and this trend is increasing by 16% per year. Season 2 of White Lotus was set on San Domenico Palace in Sicily and the number of searches for the hotel increased by 300 per cent after the premiere. Hotels.com predicts that Season 3 will drive just as much attention to the season's hotels, Four Seasons Resort on Koh Samui. The hotel can get fully booked in no time and Hotels.com suggests alternatives with a similar feel:

• METT Hotel & Beach Resort Bodrum, Turkey
• Hacienda Na Xamena, Ibiza, Spain
• Anantara Rasananda Koh Phangan Villas, Thailand
• Grace Hotel, Auberge Resorts Collection, Greece
• Banyan Tree Mayakoba, Mexico

Successful 2024 for Croatia's tourism

In 2024, Croatia recorded over 21.3 million tourist arrivals and 108.7 million overnight stays, according to the Croatian Ministry of Tourism and Sport. This represents an increase of 4 per cent in arrivals and 1 per cent in overnight stays compared to the previous year. Sweden is one of the fastest growing markets, with an 8% increase in Swedish tourists from 2023 to 2024. The strong growth also reflects Croatia's ambition to balance success with sustainability. Initiatives include:

• Reducing pressure on popular destinations during the high season by promoting year-round tourism.
• Limiting the number of cruise ships that can dock in Dubrovnik to a maximum of two per day.
• Major investments in infrastructure.

Göta Canal named Europe's best cycle route

The Göta Canal cycle path has been named Europe's best cycle path at the prestigious Fiets en Wandelbeurs trade fair in Utrecht, the Netherlands. The award is a great recognition for Swedish cycling tourism and confirms the Göta Canal's position as one of Europe's top destinations for cycling experiences. The cycle path along Göta Canal offers a unique combination of nature, culture and history and stretches over 20 miles between Sjötorp on Lake Vänern and Mem on the Baltic Sea. 

SJ invests in the West Coast Line

Track works have succeeded each other on the West Coast Line, which has made it difficult to build up a robust service. But now SJ is starting a long-term investment to improve for travellers on the route. This will be done with new trains, increased traffic and, in the long term, shorter journey times. The timetable for 2025 includes an initial expansion of SJ's service on the West Coast Line, which runs between Gothenburg and Malmö, from five departures in each direction to seven.

Reopening of The Gyllene Tider Experience

On 14 February, the doors opened to the refreshed exhibition The Gyllene Tider Experience i Halmstad. Here you can experience Gyllene Tider's big breakthrough and take part in fan stories, historic guitars and wonderful music that has characterised generations. Gyllene Tider is truly a timeless band. If you've been here before, you'll recognise it, but you won't. From 2025, you can also experience the exhibition through guided tours.

Reflection of the week

Streaming tourism, or set-jetting, certainly seems to be a hot trend. We ourselves have never consciously travelled to a specific place because we saw it in a film or TV series, but some series may have helped us to discover a particular country or landscape.

Did you miss the last travel news? Read the Cycling holidays, cruising habits and Egyptian mummies

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