Norwegian State Railways (NSB) carried 2.6 per cent more passengers last year, compared with 2011. There was an increase both on regional as well as local trains.
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Tourism
Norway's unexplored quarter - Kragerø
- Saturday, 02 February 2013 21:13
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Expertly hidden around two and a half hours drive south of Oslo, is Kragerø, a small seaside town nestled in amongst one of the little fjords that fray the coast from Oslo to Vest-Agder. On discovering this little secret, you will quickly realize that there is a little more beneath the surface here.
Survey names Oslo the world's priciest city
- Monday, 24 September 2012 15:00
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Oslo is the most expensive city in the world, ahead of Zurich and Tokyo, but the well-paid residents of the Swiss financial hub enjoy the greatest purchasing power, according to a study released on Friday.
The annual survey of 72 cities by Swiss bank UBS found its own hometown had the world's highest average wages and the biggest purchasing power.
The study examined the price of a basket of 122 goods and services, adjusted for currency fluctuations. The cost of living index was calculated by dividing the price of goods by the weighted net hourly wage in 15 sectors.
"In Tokyo it takes nine minutes of work to earn enough to buy a Big Mac, while in Nairobi it takes 84 minutes," it said.
Zurich residents must work 13 minutes for the hamburger, but other goods were relatively cheaper than in Tokyo, putting the Swiss city top of the purchasing power index.
"Workers in Zurich can buy an iPhone after 22 hours work; in Manila, by contrast, it takes around 20 times longer," UBS said.
Workers had to toil 42 minutes in Istanbul and 29 minutes in Shanghai for a Big Mac, while in New York and Hong Kong just 10 minutes were required.
The cheapest places to live were Delhi and Mumbai. New York was the sixth most expensive, Moscow came in at number 40 and Shanghai at 49.
The survey also looked at working hours and found the shortest were in Paris, Lyon and Copenhagen. Workers in Asia, Africa, the Middle East and South America toil the longest, at over 2,000 hours per year, it found.
Fewer foreign tourists in Norway hotels
- Saturday, 08 September 2012 01:02
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Norwegian hotel operators suffered a noticeable decline in their number of overnight guests from several European countries this summer, including some that traditionally have played a major role in the tourism market. One hotel in particular is struggling to win back visitors after last year’s terrorist attacks.
New figures from state statistics bureau SSB show that the number of visitors from Spain fell by 29 percent in July, while there also were 27 percent fewer Italians checking in at Norwegian hotels. The decline was expected, given the euro crisis and high unemployment that’s plaguing both countries.
The trend extended much farther north, however, than tourism industry officials had predicted. Overnight guests from France fell by 12 percent and there also was a marked decline in visitors from two of Norway’s most important tourism markets, Germany and the Netherlands. Dutch visitors fell by 11 percent and Germans by 7 percent.
“The decline from Spain and Italy was expected, but it worries us that the declines from the Netherlands and Germany were so big,” Per-Arne Tuftin, tourism director for Innovation Norway told newspaper Aftenposten. “The numbers are weaker than what we thought we’d see.”
The large national organization representing hotel and tourism operators, NHO Reiseliv, blames Norway’s strong currency, which effectively boosts Norwegian prices even higher than normal, along with the financial unrest in Europe.
“We have the highest currency rate measured against the euro in 10 years, and it’s clear that’s affecting the competitiveness of the Norwegian operators,” Kristin Gyldenskog of NHO Reiseliv told Aftenposten.
SSB’s numbers for July, traditionally seen as the height of the Norwegian foreign tourist season, showed a total of 5.3 million overnight stays at Norwegian hotels, an overall decline of 2 percent compared to July 2011.
The fall-off was greatest among foreign visitors, down an overall 4 percent, while the decline in Norwegians checking in was 1 percent.
There were a few bright spots, with an increase in visitors from Sweden and Great Britain along with a jump in overseas visitors from, for example, Japan and South Korea.
July 22 effect
Among the hotels having a quieter summer than usual was the historic but recently expanded Sundvolden Hotel northwest of Oslo. It suddenly gained worldwide attention last year when it served as the gathering spot for survivors of the massacre on the nearby island of Utøya on July 22, 2011, and now it seems some longtime guests and companies holding seminars have hesitated to return.
According to the family-owned hotel’s annual report, revenues and results are running under budget after the July 22 events left “a negative effect in the market.” Hotel officials, wrote owner Tord Moe Laeskogen, “are working actively to normalize conditions and return to everyday life.”
Laeskogen said he thinks the hotel emerged stronger from the July 22 ordeal, but admitted that “some guests think it’s difficult to return to the hotel,” because it reminds them of the attacks. He told newspaper Dagens Næringsliv (DN) that he think the one-year anniversary of the attacks this summer marked a turning point and hopes the hotel can now move forward.
The family has invested NOK 145 million in Sundvolden Hotel since 2009 in a major expansion to 257 rooms, making it the largest free-standing hotel in the Oslo area.
Competition from mountain hotels in, for example, Hallingdal and Buskerud is tough and “everyone is struggling with profitability,” Laeskogen said. He told DN that bookings for the autumn were showing some improvement, though, “and we all must be optimistic.”
Norwegians travel more, but closer to home
Norwegians completed 5,8 million overnight trips during the second quarter of this year, according to a recent survey. However, travellers now prefer destinations closer to home.
Norwegians have increased their travel by seven percent, compared to the same time period last year.
"We have more time, increased financial freedom, and we travel for self-realization," says Hilde Charlotte Solheim, director of travel at Virke, an enterprise federation.
She explains that Norwegians no longer just take on one role when they travel. After a vacation with the kids, the parents may go on themed vacations - golf trips, language courses or girls' trips. "Many people choose to bring their hobbies and interest with them on their holiday," Solheim tells NRK.
Cheaper flights and a wider selection may also play an important part in people's vacation plans. "Offers create demand," according to Solheim.
Still, Norwegians' summer holidays in a sunny destination abroad still top the list of preferred trips. And unless the weather changes dramatically next year, it looks like it will probably stay that way.
Source: Views and News from Norway and Norway Post
Norwegian Cruise Line launches Hawaii promotion
- Wednesday, 05 September 2012 21:16
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Norwegian Cruise Line is offering $100 in on-board credits to customers who book a Hawaii cruise by Saturday.
The three-day Hawaii Bonus Days sales event, which kicked off today, is for new reservations on the line's Hawaii-based Pride of America and is good with any cabin category.
The 2,138-passenger Pride of America operates week-long cruises out of Honolulu to the Hawaiian islands of Maui, Kauai and Hawaii.
Norwegian offers Hawaii packages that include a seven-night cruise and airline flights to and from the sailing starting at $1,949 per person, based on double occupancy.
Source: USA Today
New passenger record at Oslo Airport
- Wednesday, 15 August 2012 18:20
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In July, 2 072 534 passengers travelled via Oslo Airport Gardermoen, up 5 per cent from July last year.
There was a strong growth in the number of charter passengers to and from foreign destinations (8.4 per cent), and Oslo Airport has never before had as many charter passengers in a single month.
General traffic to and from foreign destinations increased by 6.2 per cent, while the increase on domestic flights was 3.1 per cent. Overall increase in passenger traffic so far this year has been 5.5 per cent.
Source: NorwayPost
Norwegian found relaxing on luggage belt in Rome Airport
- Friday, 10 August 2012 11:34
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An inebriated Norwegian tourist managed to fall asleep and travel over a hundred metres on a baggage belt at Rome airport before being spotted on an x-ray.
The 36-year-old Norwegian, who has not been named, lay down with his baggage on the belt at the airline check in in late July and promptly fell asleep, according to a report in the UK Daily Telegraph.
The belt however began to move and the man was taken on a 15 minute tour of the airport's hidden areas before officials spotted his curled up shape on an x-ray machine.
When Fiumicino Airport police arrived they are reported to have had trouble rousing the sozzled Scandinavian.
Despite the man's impromptu 100 metre trip behind the scenes of Italy's busiest international airport, airport police claimed that security is tight. One senior officer furthermore pointed out that this is not the first time an incident of this kind has occurred.
"There's usually an episode like this once a year and we are alert," he said, according to the Daily Telegraph.
Before being handed over to the police, the hapless Norwegian was taken to hospital for a check up following his exposure to the powerful x-rays and he is reported not to have suffered any serious injury.
Røros wins the 2012 Tourism for Tomorrow Award
- Thursday, 09 August 2012 20:54
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Destination Røros, Norway has been awarded the prestigious 2012 Tourism for Tomorrow Award, in competition with the two other finalists, the Misool Eco Resort, Indonesia and Tanabe City Kumano Tourism Bureau, Japan.
The prize was awarded during the WTTC's annual meeting in Tokyo on Tuesday.
The Tourism for Tomorrow Awards are organised by the World Travel & Tourism Council, with the support of its strategic partners Travelport and The Travel Corporation Conservation Foundation. The Awards are also supported by a number of contributors and media partners.
It is the first time such a prize has been awarded to a Norwegian destination, NRK reports.
Røros is a unique mining town built exclusively of wood. The town has for 333 years been a melting pot of cultures and influences from Germany, Denmark, Sweden, Trondheim and the surrounding district. This has resulted in a wooden house environment, which represents much of Norway?s finest traditions, and is unique in our country?s industrial, social, cultural and architectural areas. The mining town of Røros and its surroundings is a characteristic example of a special traditional style of wood architecture creating a unique town 600 metres above sea level.
The wooden houses and the centre of the town are included on the list. The mining town has retained much of its original structure in the layout of the streets from the 1600s, and the wooden houses built in the1700 and 1800s.
900 Year Old Borgund Stavkirke Church
- Thursday, 02 August 2012 23:35
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Between the years 1100 and 1300s, there were about 1000 stave churches built along the old trade routes in Norway. The Borgund Stavkirke is the best preserved of any today and is a truly unique temple to visit.
Chinese tourism to Norway is booming
- Monday, 30 July 2012 02:38
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The number of tourist visas (ADS) issued at the Norwegian Consulate General in Shanghai reached a record high this summer, counting almost 2 000 in July. This is a year on year increase of more than 150 per cent since 2010.
Airlines face off with new routes
- Monday, 09 July 2012 17:39
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Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) and its arch rival in Norway, Norwegian Air, are both planning new routes when intercontinental competition heats up next year. The plans include the return of SAS to California, more than 20 years after it stopped flying to Los Angeles.
Tension between Norway and China: Hurtigruten ads banned in China
- Sunday, 08 July 2012 23:15
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Norway’s famed coastal voyage called “Hurtigruten” had targeted the emerging market of Chinese tourists but suddenly seems to have found itself Shanghaied by Chinese authorities who are angry with the Norwegian government.
Norkapp gets record tourists inflow
- Monday, 07 May 2012 06:32
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In 2011, more than 236,000 people visited Nordkapp (The North Cape in Norway) - the most northern point on the European continent.
Norwegian
