Focusing on Europe

Innovation Norway has decided to spend 4 million Norwegian kroner extra on marketing campaigns in Norway, Sweden, Germany and the Netherlands. – I am happy to hear that Innovation Norway takes this initiative when we are facing an important summer season, Minister of Trade and Industry Trond Giske said.

Innovation Norway redistributes funds already in their budget to cover the campaigns, which is seen as important because of the uncertainty many tourists feel after the volcanic eruption in Iceland earlier this year.

The tourism industry now fears that summer tourists will hesitate to book a holiday which involves air transportation. Two thirds of the tourists in Norway, however, are Norwegians vacationing in their own country. Of the foreign tourists, two out of three travel to Norway from other European countries, many by car or ferry.

- By having a stronger focus on tourists who often choose to travel by car, train and ferry, the Norwegian tourism industry will hopefully be less affected by fewer tourists travelling by air, said Giske.