Lofoten and the Helgeland coast are the beloved places for Norwegian and overseas tourists during their summer vacations.
For that reason several feared that there would be total chaos when the federal government made the decision 61 ferry connections would not value persons a dime.
In some sites it was celebrated with champagneand many tourist destinations organized for added guests this 12 months.
– We have been energized, because in latest decades we have had a ton of vacationer strain. With a cost-free ferry, we assumed there would be even better demand, suggests Nordland Regional Transportation and Infrastructure Councilor Monica Sande (Sp).
So it did not occur that way.
Sharp drop
In comparison to the last standard year, 2019, in July the variety of autos on board ferries in Nordland drops by 11.5%.
This is presented that the preliminary knowledge of the Norwegian road administration are proper.
Transformed into the range of motor vehicles, the determine is about 50,000.
The passenger of the Sigmund Solberg ferry is a single of people who benefit from the offer at the ferry pier in Svolvær.
– It was a big furthermore to get a free of charge ferry. I feel it is very significant, for the reason that you can working experience the total Lofoten in a more cost-effective way.
Jon Stueflotten, who was queuing at the ferry in Svolvær, has a theory as to why there was not as substantially visitors as they may have believed.
– It is probably not really properly recognized nevertheless and you really don’t even know which ferries are cost-free. So it might be a little bit new.
Blame it on time
Also in the ferry counties of Møre, Romsdal and Rogaland there is a decrease of 1.8% and 23% respectively. In Vestland, targeted traffic increased by 3%.
Monica Sande believes that time ought to get a great deal of the blame for the fairly astonishing decline.
– A big portion of the motive is probably that we experienced a good deal of lousy climate in Nordland this 12 months. Vacationers in motorhomes and travelers in cars often drive where by the weather conditions is good, and Nordland almost certainly wasn’t at the major of the list this year.
Trips to the south are also possibly a little something that was additional tempting in an uncrowned 12 months, Sande believes.
– Lots of probably took edge of it, when it is at last possible to vacation overseas.
Now he hopes that next year will be a lot more constructive for travelers from the north.
– I hope there are even additional totally free ferries, mainly because this is not just for travelers, but particularly for individuals who are long term people. When we have a poor summer time now, we will likely have a excellent summer following year. Then you want a good supply, the two for travelers and for locals.
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