Nearly 20 million overnight stays were made during the winter season in Sweden. This corresponds to just over SEK 10 billion in accommodation revenue, which is double compared to last year and almost at the same level as before the pandemic.
This is shown by the Swedish Agency for Economic and Regional Growth's figures from the country's hotels and holiday villages for the winter season 2022.
Swedes accounted for four out of five guest nights during the winter season
Homestays accounted for four out of five guest nights during this year's winter season, which corresponds to an increase of almost 50 percent. This means that Swedish tourism within the country is now at a higher level than before the pandemic. Tourists from abroad accounted for just over three million guest nights, which is 700,000 fewer than in the winter season of 2019.
Strong development for ski tourism
The three largest ski regions – Dalarna, Jämtland and Värmland counties – accounted for almost a third of guest nights in Sweden during the winter season. Here too, the trend towards homestays was clear, with nine out of ten guest nights accounted for by Swedes themselves, an increase of eight percent since 2019. The strongest development at the ski resorts has been for rented cabins and apartments, with an increase of just over 20 percent in the number of guest nights, compared to before the pandemic.
– Ski tourism proved to be strong during the pandemic. It was probably the most suitable way to travel during the pandemic as you spend most of the day outdoors. It is also common to stay in cabins and apartments in the ski resorts, says analyst Jimi Löfman at the Swedish Agency for Economic and Regional Growth.
The big cities have fewer foreign visitors
In the three metropolitan counties – Stockholm, Västra Götaland and Skåne – tourism has been slower during the winter compared to before the pandemic. However, they have had the strongest development in the country, with a doubling of the number of guest nights since the previous winter.
Detailed statistics for all counties are available here
It is mainly foreign tourists who have not been there, especially there have been fewer tourists from Norway, the United Kingdom, China and India.
Big difference between regions
However, the recovery towards 2019 levels differs between regions. Despite the strong development in the ski regions, Halland shows the strongest recovery and Stockholm the weakest.
Visit the Swedish Agency for Economic and Regional Development's statistics portal to see more statistics: https://tillvaxtdata.tillvaxtverket.se/statistikportal
About the statistics
Tillväxtverket is responsible for accommodation statistics, which are part of Sweden's official statistics. It reports on overnight stays, capacity, occupancy rates, and guests' countries of origin for commercial accommodation facilities in Sweden (hotels, cottage villages, hostels, commercially rented private cottages and apartments, and campsites).
Guest nights are a measure of the number of nights guests stay at commercial accommodation facilities. Read more about the statistics: About the statistics – The Swedish Agency for Economic and Regional Development (tillvaxtverket.se)
The statistics for the 2022 winter season are preliminary.
The winter season includes December, January, February, March and April.
