Preliminary monthly statistics for April 2021 show that the total number of guest nights at commercial accommodation facilities in Sweden increased by 104 percent compared to April 2020. Despite the increase, there are 39 percent fewer guest nights compared to April 2019.

– It is pleasing that travel seems to be starting up again and that we are leaving last year's gloomy figures behind us. Part of the explanation for the rise in April is that the mountain resorts were open over Easter, but tourism is actually increasing in the big cities as well, says Kristian Seth, Head of Analysis at the Swedish Agency for Economic and Regional Growth.

The total number of guest nights at commercial accommodation facilities in Sweden in April 2021 amounted to almost 2.6 million, an increase of approximately 104 percent compared to April 2020. The large percentage increase should be seen in light of the large decline in guest nights that occurred in April last year. Compared to April 2019, which measured the highest number of guest nights for the month of April since measurements began (1978), there are still 39 percent fewer guest nights this year. 

– Of course, there is still a long way to go before normal conditions return, but one can expect that there will be an increasingly strong upswing in tourism now as restrictions are eased, says Kristian Seth, Head of Analysis at the Swedish Agency for Economic and Regional Development.

.The number of guest nights from Swedish tourists amounted to just over 2.3 million, which corresponds to an increase of 105 percent compared to the corresponding period the previous year. The number of guest nights from foreign tourists amounted to approximately 205,000 in April 2021, which was an increase of 106 percent compared to April 2020.

Increase in guest nights in all counties

The increase occurred in all counties compared to the corresponding period the previous year. Jämtland County had the largest relative increase, followed by Dalarna County and Gotland County. The number of guest nights in Jämtland County amounted to approximately 271,000, which was an increase of 423 percent compared to April 2020. Dalarna County, with almost 295,000 guest nights, had an increase of 184 percent. Guest nights in Gotland County amounted to 23,000, an increase of 175 percent compared to April 2020.