8 out of 10 (78%) Swedes feel that travel costs have increased. At the same time, every second Swede (46%) in the survey says they do not plan to change their travel habits. This is according to a new survey1 on Swedes' travel habits in 2022 and early 2023, conducted by global payment network Visa.
The main reasons why Swedes travel are that it is associated with relaxation and visiting friends/family. The average Swede has made five trips in the past year and spent 16,243 SEK during their travels.
”"The economic situation is forcing many households to prioritize their finances. Our figures show that travel is something that Swedes hold in high regard. Many travel back to the same destination they have visited before, which shows that travel has a special place in our lives," says Fredrik Lindquist, Head of Sweden for Visa.
Sustainable travel is increasing
Visa's figures also show that sustainable travel is a segment on the rise. 6 out of 10 (58%) Swedes are aware of the travel option and one in three Swedes (29%) express a concrete interest in traveling more sustainably.
Above all, people want to reduce their carbon emissions when traveling by air. However, the fact that there is often a lack of relevant information from the tour operator is seen by many as an obstacle.
Swedish travelers prefer digital payment methods
How we prefer to pay when we travel is also changing. Fewer and fewer people pay with cash. Only 14 percent of purchases at the destination were made with physical currencies. A majority of purchases were made with debit cards (63%). One in four purchases (23%) were made via a digital wallet.
”When we travel, we prefer flexible and secure payment options. That’s why card acceptance is an important factor for travelers. As one of the world’s largest payment networks with 100 million connected merchants worldwide, you can rest assured that your Visa card is connected to the entire world and can be used at millions of locations in over 200 countries. Over the past five years, we have invested $9 billion in cybersecurity and
fraud prevention measures so that you feel safe when booking a hotel or paying the restaurant bill on your holiday trip,” says Fredrik Lindquist.
Top list: Here are the countries that Swedes prefer to travel to
1. Spain (19%)
2. Denmark (12%)
3. Greece (10%)
4. United Kingdom (9%)
5. Germany (8%)
6. Italy (7%)
7. France (6%)
8. Finland (6%)
9. Turkey (5%)
10. Croatia (5%)
Footnote: Percentage of total travel to each country.2
According to the press release.
