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The hope in several of Sweden’s popular tourist regions is that at least domestic tourism can start this summer, even if it cannot make up for the loss of income that foreign tourists who have been missing will cause.
But on Wednesday Stefan Löfven told the DN that tourism in Sweden is unlikely to start this summer.
“We probably haven’t been through this this summer,” he said.
In the Skåne region last year Around three million commercial guest nights between June and August. The summer of this summer will definitely look different. And while some companies have already seen a big loss, others have fared better, but not for long.
– Conference-dependent facilities have already lost a lot. This applies to both city hotels and field facilities. There, he stopped directly. But there are also companies that are seeing a rebound now, including many farm stores, says Sara Brynskog, Head of Regional Tourism Communications in Skåne.
In Skåne last summer they had over three million guest nights.
Photo: Åke Malmström
The big concern is that both foreign and domestic tourism will not be able to start this summer.
– What we hope is that Swedes can experience Sweden, and the focus should now be on equipping themselves to offer crown-guaranteed experiences for domestic visitors. A positive effect of this crisis is that we are forced to take giant steps in the digital transition. Regardless of how you turn it, 2020 will be a very bad year, says Sara Brynskog.
As a regional actor, they work in the long term, with different scenarios for the reality that arises after the crisis.
– Because this crisis will end.
Dalarna is also one of the regions. that last year had the most number of visitor nights. Tourists come for nature around Lake Siljan, among other things, and during festival weeks, such as Malung Dance Band Week and Classic Car Week, when Rättvik is full of car fans.
But major events appear to be set this year, and companies around Dalarna are now struggling to try to adapt their operations to the crisis. This is stated by Jonas Rosén, CEO of Visit Dalarna.
– There is great humility in adapting your business according to existing regulations. The big question right now is how can we be open this summer. What can we do and what not to do, he says.
Dance Band Week is one of the events that attracts many tourists to Dalarna in the summer.
Photo: Erik Nylander
Jonas Rosén says they still see great interest in Dalarna.
– We have never received so many requests for places and places of interest. This is probably a clear consequence of seeking nature and experiences that can be safe for the crown.
But the crisis too Companies have begun to consider changing their business models and taking a break after the crisis. Jonas Rosén believes that our behavior will change even in the long term.
– Then we will look for new experiences. And surely things will come out of this crisis, because we will appreciate the local in a different way, says Jonas Rosén.
He also believes that business travel will be dramatically reduced even when the crisis ends.
– Then it is important to use all the accommodation for another. We are now developing our outdoor concept, and we are seeing an increasing demand for hiking and biking trails.
But even though there may be positive effects after the crisis, it is a fact here and now. In Dalarna, today there are 800 companies working in the hotel industry.
– This category has a great impact in the first stage, and in the next stage everything that revolves around that industry: transport companies, commerce, service stations, will also get rid of their jobs.
In the Västra Götaland region is high visitor pressure, especially in summer. Both in Gothenburg’s event city, with the Liseberg giveaway patch where there is now great uncertainty about the opening. But also in the pure summer resorts on the west coast.
– We hope, of course, like everyone else, that it takes off and that we are in such a position that it can take off. So there is potential for things to go well, but the situation needs to improve, says Fredrik Lindén, CEO of the Tourism Board in western Sweden.
Liseberg, one of the big patches in the Gothenburg giveaway, won’t open as planned in May.
Photo: Adam Ihse / TT
While operations in Gothenburg have already been hit hard by the crisis, the places that are most buoyed by pure summer tourism have had better results so far.
– They haven’t hit the target yet. If summer turns into nothing, many companies will be cut, we will lose more jobs and, of course, it will be difficult for the region, says Fredrik Lindén.
But also in the Tourist Board In western Sweden, it is preparing for a time when the crisis is over and when tourism is on the rise, one way or another.
– It will rise again, although it will take some time. That 70 percent of Swedish tourism is national is favorable to us. Other countries that have foreign tourism as a large part of their GDP receive incredible explosions.
Fredrik Lindén also believes that the crisis will affect our way of traveling in the future.
– Definitely at the beginning. We will discover what we have in Sweden and we want to support the companies we have. So surely the airline industry will change, and then you can see a little more that we are tourists in Sweden. It will probably not only change our trips in the short term, but also in the long term.
Read more: The hotel industry expects to book this summer, but the uncertainty is great
