When the Swedish Agency for Economic and Regional Growth published the official accommodation statistics recently, tourism industry players in the High Coast were able to rejoice at yet another new record.
The destination records a total of 334,997 guest nights, which is a new all-time high. Summer tourism is thus increasing for the 8th year in a row!
While the number of guest nights in the rest of Sweden remains unchanged compared to last year, they increase in the High Coast by an astonishing 29.4%. "There were already high expectations for this summer in advance thanks to, among other things, O-Ringen High Coast. But we probably wouldn't have dared to dream that we would increase by that much," says Peter Holmqvist, CEO of High Coast Destination Development.
Events of strategic importance for the tourism industry
An analysis of the preliminary accommodation statistics shows the importance of events such as O-Ringen, where not only a single municipality benefits from the tourism economic effects, but where these benefit many actors around the destination.
”"We feel that O-Ringen Höga Kusten has helped us reach out with our brand to an even greater extent than before and we expect to see event effects in the coming years, when competitors choose to return to experience even more of what the destination has to offer," continues Peter Holmqvist.
More foreign guest nights in the High Coast in summer 2018
Based on the national strategy, the High Coast has agreed on a target of 800 new jobs in the tourism industry by 2025. This is an ambitious target that requires the destination to reach new target groups in strategically selected foreign markets. Foreign guest nights increased this year by 5.1%.
”"It is gratifying to see that our efforts to attract more foreigners are starting to bear fruit. However, we are only at the beginning of an exciting journey and still have a great deal of untapped potential that we, together with Höga Kusten Turism members, want to take advantage of," states Peter Holmqvist.
Guest nights High Coast
Hotels, holiday villages, hostels and camping – total number 334,997 (real increase +45,675 which corresponds to +28.4 %). Of which the proportion of foreign is 65,704 (real increase +3.186 which corresponds to +5.1 %).
Source: Statistics Sweden/Swedish Agency for Economic and Regional Growth
Accommodation statistics describe part of tourism in Sweden and only refer to commercial overnight stays in hotels, holiday villages, hostels and camping.
Day visits, overnight stays in holiday homes, visits to family and friends or privately rented accommodation via, for example, Airbnb, which are important parts of tourism, are not included.
