Billion-dollar race for tourism in both Kalmar and Kronoberg

Hotels, campsites, restaurants and other parts of the tourism industry in Kalmar and Kronoberg have been hit hard by the pandemic.

According to calculations made by the trade association Visita, based on data from the Swedish Agency for Economic and Regional Growth and Statistics Sweden, revenues from tourism in the counties decreased significantly during the period March-December 2020 compared with the same months in 2019.

The Swedes also traveled less

In both counties, the shortage of foreign tourists has been the biggest cause of the loss of revenue.

In Kalmar County, revenues from foreign tourists decreased by almost 80 percent or just over 2 billion.

In Kronoberg County, almost 70 percent of the revenue from foreign tourists lost, or just over 1.5 billion.

But the Swedes also reduced their tourism in the county compared with the year before.

Jonas Siljhammar, CEO of Visita, believes this is due to the fact that the restrictions have had a major impact.

- To save jobs for the coming spring and summer, it is crucial that current restrictions are eased as soon as the infection situation allows, he says.