It is the Environmental Protection Agency's mountain safety council that, in a survey of destination companies and mountain stations linked to the Swedish Tourist Association (STF), found out the interest in staying in the mountains.
Day trips popular
Just over six out of ten respond that the number of families with younger children (4–12 years) has increased during the summer during the last five years.
The pandemic is considered to have had a positive effect on the increase as many families with children sought the Swedish mountains as an alternative to traditional trips abroad.
The results show that it is mainly day-trip hikes that have increased.
Just over eight out of ten respondents answer that this activity has increased in the last five years.
- The day hikers include many families with children and also inexperienced mountain visitors.
It is wise not to hike too far in the beginning, especially when hiking with children.
Hiking and camping require more planning and can be a natural development for a family that is becoming more used to the mountains, says Per-Olov Wikberg, national coordinator at the Mountain Safety Council.
More common to hike in the summer
According to Per-Olov Wikberg, it has become increasingly common for visitors to also go to the mountains during the summer and not just during the winter months when it's time for the ski season.
- It probably partly has to do with the fact that the mountain facilities worked for a long time to increase the number of visitors even during the summer periods, but at the same time the pandemic has had an effect on the interest in vacationing at home, he says.
In the clip, Per-Olov Wikberg gives tips on what parents should think about if they want to take their children on a trip to the mountains.