When Visit Värmland presented statistics from the visiting industry today, it turned out that Värmland lost guest nights. While the number of guest nights throughout Sweden for the summer months of June, July and August this year increased by five per cent, the number of guest nights decreased by 2.7 per cent in Värmland compared with the summer of 2018.
- The quick analysis is that 2018 was a record year with a 13 per cent increase on an annual basis. What we have lost is primarily Norwegian camping tourists, while Karlstad and the hotels in Karlstad continue to increase, says Mia Landin, CEO of the trade organization Visit Värmland.
Why didn't the Norwegians come this year?
- Norwegians, just like us, have a strong environmental and sustainability approach. Last year we also got help from the weather, which impacted especially on the campsites. The hospitality industry is very much about the weather and wind, says Mia Landin.
In total, the preliminary figures show that Värmland had 1,120,600 guest nights during the summer of 2019. And although the number of guest nights decreased in the summer, Visit Värmland's CEO is not worried.
- Not worried at all. Going from a record year to a decrease of 2.7 percent from the record level means that we still increase over time. I would say we have stable growth, says Mia Landin.