Due to the coronavirus, China is stopping all group travel abroad from next week. How hard the Swedish tourism industry is affected depends on how long the ban is in effect.
Chinese tourists are a growing group in the Swedish tourism industry and group travel is an important part. Last year, travelers from China accounted for almost 400,000 commercial overnight stays, with peak season in the summer.
– Chinese tourism is very small in February. Most people come in July and August, says Bitte Olsson, press officer at Visit Sweden.
In Finnish Lapland, the effect will be tangible. Up to 8,000 Chinese tourists usually visit Rovaniemi at this time of year, the majority of them group travelers.
“We were in the process of starting preparations for the Chinese New Year, which is the busiest period of the entire winter season. The majority of our customers come from China,” Visit Rovaniemi CEO Sanna Kärkkäinen told Yle, according to the news agency SPT.
It is unclear how big the consequences of the virus outbreak will be for Swedish companies that arrange group trips to China. Tour operator Tema, which has two trips to China booked in March with a total of around 50 travelers, has not changed any plans.
– It's just over a month away and a lot can happen. But we are constantly monitoring developments, says Marketing Manager David Karlsson.
Source: TT
