Sunshine and World Cup success are causing prices for last-minute trips to drop.
Swedes eager for a vacation are rejoicing, but the Swedish Society for Nature Conservation raises a warning finger.
The Swedish summer has delivered so far: the sun is shining, the heat is holding, and the World Cup is being shown on big screens around the country.
And the less we have to complain about – the fewer reasons to flee the country. At least if you look at how much cheaper many last-minute tickets are this year, compared to the same period last year.
”"I have worked in the travel industry for 15 years and can't remember the prices ever being this favorable during the peak summer," says Lina Eklund at the travel company Resia.
She points out, among other things, that the average price for trips booked between June 22 and July 4 was up to 20 percent lower than during the same period last year. The difference was greatest for trips to southern Spain – where the price tag has been halved.
And several travel agencies have noticed the same trend:
”"Generally, prices tend to be lower before midsummer. What is unusual this year is that prices have been kept low even into July," says Katarina Daniels at Ticket, which sells travel from several companies.
The main reason is that the heat is still lingering, according to both Ticket and Resia. But excitement and the Swedish successes in the World Cup are also affecting demand.
”"If there's ever a time to find a bargain on travel, it's now. Places showing the World Cup are also available in almost every travel destination," says Lina Eklund.
But just because it's cheap, you shouldn't rush to the booking portals and buy a trip "just because," warns the Swedish Society for Nature Conservation.
”It is easy to book a trip and it costs very little, but the environmental impact is very large,” says Johanna Sandahl, chairwoman of the Swedish Society for Nature Conservation.
For example, traveling round trip from Stockholm to Málaga releases approximately 467 kilograms of carbon dioxide per passenger, according to ICAO.
”"That's why it's good that you don't go just for the sake of going. But it's very easy to do, the prices for flights are completely unreasonably cheap and really don't encourage reflection," says Johanna Sandahl.
Source: TT
