By: The editors | Source: press material
Then it was Monday again! Here at FREEDOMtravel that means travel news, i.e. a collection of short news about travel, camping and tourism.
More and more foreign visitors are choosing Piteå
Piteå maintains a strong position within the hospitality industry in the province. The number of guest nights will increase by 5.5 percent in 2025. The strongest is camping, where Piteå accounts for almost a quarter of all camping nights in the province. A trend change was also noted during the year: the share of foreign visitors increased significantly and now accounts for almost 30 percent of all guest nights.
Four in ten Swedes are concerned about mosquito-borne diseases in Europe
According to a new Novus survey from VaccinDirekt, 41 percent of Swedes are concerned about the spread of mosquito-borne diseases in Europe. In line with reports of cases of dengue and chikungunya in parts of Europe, the question has arisen about the risk picture and which recommendations apply.
The research shows that young people (18-34 years) are the most concerned. However, old age and a weakened immune system are the biggest risk factors for a more serious course of the disease. For most healthy people, diseases such as dengue and chikungunya are usually mild infections, but in some cases they can lead to a more serious course of illness.
Visit Sweden competes with five Swedish islands – but not with Sweden
Visit Sweden has launched a new global marketing effort, Your Swedish islandwhere international travelers can compete for a year for the right to use one of the five Swedish islands. The aim is to increase interest in Sweden as a travel destination by showcasing one of the country’s unique natural resources: the most islands in the world.
With its 267,570 islands, Sweden has the most islands in the world: from small, uninhabited islands to larger islands in both seas and lakes throughout the country. The competition is open to citizens over the age of 18 in all countries of the world except Sweden. Billionaires are also not allowed to participate. The five winners will receive:
- Twelve months right of use on one of the five selected islands.
- A diploma that certifies the right of use.
- A trip to Sweden for two people.
- An agreement on basic responsibility for the island stay.
The five islands, owned by the Norwegian Property Agency, are:
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- The chip (Norrtalje, Stockholm)
- Storberget (Nynäshamn, Stockholm)
- March (Falkenberg, Halland)
- The announcement (Robertsfors, Västerbotten)
- Tjuvholmen (Lidköping, Västra Götaland)
Six years after the start of the pandemic: this is how Swedes travel today
Six years have passed since the first corona case was confirmed in Sweden and the pandemic fundamentally changed daily life. Trips were cancelled, borders were closed and uncertainty was total. Nowadays the desire to travel is back, but the way Swedes plan their holiday trips has changed as a result. This is how Swedes travel today, according to Ticket’s Ticket Collection report:
- More price-conscious – and travel more within Europe. 29% indicate that they have become more price-conscious and 26% are choosing European travel destinations to a greater extent.
- More planning and more attention to safety. About one in five Swedes indicate that they now book more in advance than before.
- Not everyone has changed their journey. 41% say their trips today are unchanged compared to pre-pandemic times.
More Swedish house purchases in the hot Spanish market
According to the new report from the Spanish registration authority Registradore, 178,270 homes were sold in Spain in the fourth quarter, an increase of 2.2 percent compared to the third quarter. House prices will rise by 16.6 percent in 2025. The supply has been very low for a long time, which has caused prices to rise.
The number of purchases by Sweden amounted to 617 in the fourth quarter, up from 578 in the third quarter. Sweden still ranks twelfth on the list of largest purchasing countries.
The Göta Canal is booked early
Planning for the sailing season on the Göta Canal is in full swing. Every year boat guests from about 25 countries visit the Swedish Blue Band, the Göta Canal. International boat guests usually book their visits well in advance. If you travel in the early or late canal season, there is reason to follow suit, even if you belong to the group of Swedish boat guests. In 2026, the waterway will be open from May 5 to September 27.
- Preseason: May 5 – June 15
- High season: June 16 – August 12
- Postseason: August 13 – September 27
This week’s reflection
It’s interesting that young people are more concerned about mosquito-borne diseases than older people, even though young people are generally healthier and less at risk of a more serious disease progression… What’s causing this? Are young people generally more anxious today?
Did you miss the previous travel news? Read Unromantic cities, sporty holiday trips and semmel tests
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