Tourism is one of the most affected industries in the pandemic. In this article, we are going to talk about Norway tourism and possible trends that will rise in the near future. A country with so many natural attractions is the perfect choice for a thorough analysis. Find out what tourism destinations in Norway will develop after the pandemic.
Every country in Europe is now struggling to get approval for opening their borders and allow international travel again, given that the summer season is almost here. Norway decided to take it slow and safe, balancing tourism reinvigoration and respecting the health indications. Let’s dig in deeper and find out what the Norway tourism industry will look like after this pandemic.
Related: What Will Be the Impact of Coronavirus in Scandinavia?
Domestic Norway Tourism
Ever since the coronavirus crisis has started, Norway tourism was frozen as thousands of people have been laid off. An alarmingly high number of businesses were/still are on the brink of bankruptcy, which calls for a very well-structured plan to revive the economy—especially the Norway tourism industry, which has been hit by tough pandemic restrictions.
This has been a severe hit on those who work in tourism, especially after having one of the best decades before, with overnight guest stays hitting an impressive number of 35.2 million in 2019 (not taking into account private rental platforms like AirBnB or passengers from all the cruise ships). Now, most of them are sitting at home, playing in something from the so-called Book of Ra online, and searching for online jobs.
This is why the Norway tourism after COVID-19 expects a big boom in the domestic tourism sector. It’s not forbidden at the moment for citizens to roam within the country. Still, authorities are strongly advising citizens to limit themselves only to essential travel.
Another reason for the rise of domestic Norway tourism during COVID-19 would be the level of environmental concerns that people have accepted in their day-to-day life. That is why it is expected to see more families wanting to enjoy outdoor activities instead of just seeing things together.
Related: After the Coronavirus: Norway for Norwegians
What Tourism Destinations in Norway Will Develop After the Pandemic? Continue reading.
Ecotourism
Ecotourism has witnessed an impressive rise among the citizens of Norway in the last 10 years, and in a post-pandemic world, people will most probably be even more conscious about where they travel – for minimizing the impact they have on our planet and, of course, to avoid being infected with the dreaded virus.
We will probably see people changing the Norway tourism history by choosing train travel over flying. Another interesting topic is the evolution of ecotourism. At the beginning, it was addressed to people who were flying far in places like Costa Rica or Brazil. Nowadays, we are witnessing more people respecting the carbon footprint and limiting their airborne time.
This resulted in more traveling being done towards destinations that are closer to their home. People are starting to realize how much they were missing by traveling via airplanes and are drawn towards traveling on the ground. This brings the ability to also make the ride part of the holiday to experience all things first-hand.
Vanlife or Nomadic Lifestyle
Although they are not exactly a new thing among Norwegians, caravans and motorhomes have seen a surge in popularity in the last few years. Vanlife is considered a cool lifestyle by many young people nowadays, no matter if it’s about living or just traveling for long periods of time, and is becoming an important Norway tourism policy that needs to be respected.
There has been increased activity on Facebook groups such as Vanlife Norway, either due to the pandemic or maybe it gained popularity naturally. One of the most convincing incentive for people who choose this life is about the freedom that you have with it. If you feel like you’re not thriving in a particular space, you can just leave with minimum hassle.
This way of traveling will, perhaps, attract mostly people that have no kids in their household. One of the biggest benefits of it being that you don’t necessarily have to visit one place and then go back to your everyday life. Vanlife allows you to embark on your own journey using your own vehicle, as long as you respect the Norway tourist warnings, just to be safe.
If your profession can be 100% practiced on a laptop or PC, this lifestyle can be relevant. All you need is access to electricity, of course, and a good internet provider. If Elon Musk is successful with his Starlink project, you should have no problem accessing wireless internet anywhere on the planet in a couple of years.
Related: Winter COVID-19 Blues in Norway
Natural Well-being
People have shown an increased interest in spa experiences and spa for hundreds of years. Now, in recent years, we have observed a significant increase in the interest for detox, with most of the respectable hotels offering services of fitness or beach yoga as part of their Norway tourism strategy.
More people are beginning to feel drawn towards living a healthy life, and that can be seen on a global level, with diet, stronger immune system, and health being the keywords in any Norway tourism travel guide. People are starting to realize that if they replace the drinks and crowded beaches with their own company and a glass of coconut water, they will return home much healthier and have a much better attitude towards life than before.
This pandemic has guided us into putting extra efforts towards taking better care of our minds and bodies. One of the most relevant Norway tourism facts is the increasing popularity of hotels that offer healthy food, activity opportunities, and lots of sports.
Authentic Experiences
It’s starting to be all about getting that real experience like tasting local food, having a conversation with locals, or learning about their cultural identity. If there is anything positive that we can take out of this Instagram era that we live in, is that what matters most is to enjoy a unique, authentic moment. People are moving away from the standard, streamlined experiences that involve an ordinary pool at some luxury hotel that could be, honestly, everywhere.
Maybe a couple of decades ago, if you had asked anyone what their ideal vacation looks like, it would have been all about bathing in the sea and some sunbathing on the beach. Now people are shooting for more authentic experiences.
Conscious Tourism
A great benefit of the reduced flights we have witnessed on a global level is the low level of emissions, which made many people realize the consequences of traveling, thus, agreeing that we should be traveling less in the future. This is where conscious tourism comes in, which combines the leisure travel with business.
Another term that you should expect to hear more often in the near future is „bleisure”, which is a combination between business, leisure, and pleasure. Suppose you don’t believe us this is serious. In that case, we will let you know that there is an entire casual clothing style specifically designed for this activity, including clothes that are easily packed and used on holiday and at work.
Here’s how this works: you extend the business trip by a few days until the next weekend, and you are basically saving the climate by taking two fewer flights when combining city travel with business. This works especially now when people are starting to realize that you can work away from your office.
What Tourism Destinations in Norway Will Develop After the Pandemic? Conclusion
Although we don’t know how long will this terrible pandemic last, we know that society has changed its perspective when traveling and enjoying vacations. People are moving towards more authentic and meaningful experiences, having them taken away during the quarantine periods.
What other Norway tourism trends do you think will catch on after the pandemic? Feel free to share your opinions and experiences in our comment section.
What Tourism Destinations in Norway Will Develop After the Pandemic? Written exclusively for Daily Scandinavian by Ellen Royce. Ellen is a great journalist and travel blogger. She loves to share tips and experiences in her articles. For example, about how things are necessary for travelers. Transferring her experience to other people is her main task.
Cover Image (on top) by Adrian Kirby/Pixabay