Vaccines, Covid passports and changed booking rules have led to more and more Swedes looking abroad this summer. According to the major travel companies, bookings to the Mediterranean during the late summer months have increased in recent weeks.
– Sales in Sweden show an increased interest in traveling this summer, says Freja Annamatz, press manager for Sas Sweden.
The summer months are usually peak season for Swedes traveling to the Mediterranean.
But last year, high pressure was absent due to the pandemic.
Ahead of this year's season, interest in sun destinations now appears to have picked up again. According to major travel players, bookings have increased in recent weeks, and it is mainly the classics Greece, Spain and Croatia that are attracting attention.
– Late summer and autumn are booking very well, almost like a normal year. It looks significantly better than last summer when we were at extremely low levels, says Adam Györki, Head of Communications at TUI Sweden.
Doubling of bookings
Ving states that they have a booking level of up to 70 percent during the coming late summer months compared to a normal year.
The number of bookings there also doubled last week compared to the week before.
– At the beginning of the summer we have lower volumes. But the further we go, the more trips we have. In August we have 70 percent of the number of departures compared to a normal year, says Fredrik Henriksson, Head of Communications and Sustainability at Nordic Leisure Travel Group.
”There is a huge desire”
Apollo also sees a positive trend. Compared to summer 2019, the booking situation is currently around 50 percent, which can be compared to ten percent in 2020.
– There is a huge desire to get away. We do not expect to reach the same volumes as in 2019, but we hope to end up just below that. We are going up significantly compared to last week alone, says Annika Lindberg, press contact at Apollo.
”The booking window is tighter”
In May and June, it is all the more cautious, according to travel companies. Among other things, due to uncertainty about the vaccination situation.
However, the EU's green certificates and the travel companies' more flexible cancellation and rebooking rules contribute to creating the conditions for a planned summer trip, according to the companies' spokespersons.
– We see that people are booking closer to departure than before. The booking window is tighter, people are booking a few weeks in advance, says Annika Lindberg.
The airline SAS is also seeing an increase in international travel.
– Sales in Sweden show an increased interest in traveling this summer. The number of passengers and future bookings has increased, albeit from very low levels, says Freja Annamatz, press manager for Sas Sweden in a comment.
She emphasizes that developments are entirely dependent on ongoing vaccinations and how any easing of restrictions can be coordinated between countries and regions.
MOST POPULAR TRIPS ABROAD THIS SUMMER ACCORDING TO COMPANIES
Greece
Croatia
Spain
Cyprus
Canary Islands
Source: SVT
