On Friday last week, Prime Minister Erna Solberg was finally able to announce that Norway will be reopened after intrusive corona measures. As of Saturday, there were thus a number of easings in the rules for entry and quarantine.
The news immediately had an effect on the travel companies, which experienced a significant increase in bookings.
– Commercial director Terje Berge in Finn Reise. Photo: Truls Aagedal / TV 2
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– Compared with last week, there was a doubling of the number of airline tickets sold, so it is clear that the progress in tourism has been immediately affected by the reopening, says commercial director Terje Berge in Finn Reise.
– What surprises most
Apollo also saw a clear increase in orders after the government’s press conference on Friday.
– We noticed it immediately. Only during Friday afternoon did we see a tripling in sales compared to Friday the week before. It remained stable throughout the weekend, so there has been a tripling throughout the weekend, says communications manager Beatriz Rivera.
Many of those who booked this weekend, booked trips for the fall and winter. At the same time, there are some who look further into the future.
– What surprises most is that very many Norwegians book next year’s summer holiday. The pressure on next year’s summer trips is higher than it usually is at the end of September, Rivera says.
– People have realized that there will be high pressure
Apollo’s communications manager believes there are several reasons for this trend.
– Many may have used up the holiday for this year. In Norway, it is also not as common to travel abroad in the winter as it is in Sweden, for example, says Rivera, and continues:
– Apollo’s Head of Communications, Beatriz Rivera. Photo: Apollo
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– In Norway, it is most common for the holiday abroad to take place in the summer, and I think people have understood that there will be high pressure. Prices are adjusted according to demand, and you can save a lot of money by being out early. Then you also secure the place you want to go to, because the most popular places are sold out quickly.
Rivera also believes that many people order so early to be able to have something to look forward to.
– We need to have something to look forward to, and now we also know that it will most likely be possible to travel.
Dammed travel needs
Respons Analyze has conducted a survey on behalf of SpareBank 1, in which 1265 Norwegians were asked if they plan to travel abroad before the turn of the year. Almost one in four answers yes.
– This corresponds to almost a million Norwegians who intend to travel abroad in the coming months, and I think there are very many. Those figures surprised me, says consumer economist Magne Gundersen in SpareBank 1.
– Consumer economist Magne Gundersen in SpareBank 1. Photo: Gorm Kallestad / NTB
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The survey was conducted in mid-September, and therefore it is likely that even more people are thinking abroad after the government this weekend removed almost all corona measures. According to the survey, October is the major travel month in what remains of 2021.
– There is another pent-up travel need that is now being expressed. For some, it means a weekend trip to Stockholm, Copenhagen or London. Others plan their autumn holidays in Greece or the Canary Islands. In the survey, we see that there are especially many older people who will get to warmer areas again, says Gundersen.
– Do not be left with the most expensive tickets
If you have decided to travel anyway, the consumer economist recommends booking as soon as possible.
– Now there are a lot of people going out and traveling, and there is a huge rush at the airlines and travel companies. The cheapest trips may have already been sold. To avoid being left with the most expensive tickets, it is wise to book now, says Gundersen.
He reminds us that something may have changed since the last time you were abroad.
– When you go out and travel, you should be aware that the Norwegian krone has weakened against the holiday currencies. This means that it will be more expensive than you are used to when you arrive.
If you need cash at all, you should wait to withdraw this until you arrive in the country you are traveling to.
– You can buy the most expensive cash at Gardermoen, so you should wait to withdraw money. But you probably will not need banknotes or coins at all, says Gundersen.
Familiarize yourself with the rules
Nora Aspengren, Head of Communications at TUI, also answers in the affirmative as to whether many have ordered after the announcement of reopening on Friday.
– Yes, we have seen a huge growth in the number of orders in recent days. It is absolutely fantastic to see that the desire to travel is there, and that we are now finally going south this winter. Sales have almost tripled compared to the weekend before, we also see a strong growth in the number of families with children booking holidays now, says Aspengren.
– Communications Manager Nora Aspengren at TUI. Photo: Truls Aagedal / TV 2
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She says that TUI has always experienced good demand for travel this winter, and especially to the Canary Islands.
– Gran Canaria now accounts for the absolute largest share of orders. Since Norway reopened, we also see that more bookings are coming in to Thailand and Mexico, in addition to the fact that some have secured the ultimate dream holiday in the Maldives, says Aspengren.
Although it has already been possible to travel in some places, it is becoming easier now that the Norwegian authorities have eased entry restrictions. Aspengren encourages you to continue to familiarize yourself with the rules that apply where you are going, and always have good travel insurance.
– Familiarize yourself with the rights that apply to the trip you have booked. If you travel with a package travel company, we will take care of you during the entire trip if you need anything, Aspengren promises.
– Has taken off
Ving states that sales have “really taken off” since Friday.
– Country manager in Ving, Marie-Anne Zachrisson. Photo: Ving
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– We have a sales record every day since Friday and we are very much looking forward to the great development, says Marie-Anne Zachrisson, country manager for Ving Norway.
Compared with the same days in the normal year 2019, the company has from Friday to Monday experienced a sales increase of as much as 260 percent.
– We travel until October 2022, and most people will choose the Canary Islands in the next few months, says Zachrisson.
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