Then it was Monday again and a new week awaited! Here at FREEDOMtravel, travel news is as usual based on the week’s press releases. We mainly start from the press releases that arrived in our inbox during the week, and sometimes we supplement this with news from the Mynewsdesk press service. Have fun!
Camper holidays make a big dent in the municipal coffers
How big is the role of camper tourism in the local business community of a municipality? Large, according to a study by the National Association of Camper and Camper Industry (HRF). “On average, a family spends 922 SEK per day during an overnight stay. Money spent on food, pitches, entertainment and trade,” says Jörgen Nyström, head of office at HRF.
One municipality where you can clearly see the connection is Malung-Sälen. “A camper stays shorter than a caravan owner, but in return the camper guests exchange more often. They shop, refuel and visit restaurants, which generates income for companies and tax money for the municipality,” says Håkan Söderman (M), chairman of the municipal council.
More and more families with children are planning trips abroad – young people are staying again
Research from TUI shows that 45 percent of Swedes are planning a trip abroad in the coming year – slightly less than around the same time last year. Families with children planning to go abroad increased from 48 to 50 percent, while Swedes in the 18 to 34 age group plan trips abroad to a lesser extent. Only 42 percent of young people are planning a holiday abroad, compared to 51 percent last year. This is where Swedes are traveling this winter (based on TUI booking figures):
- Gran Canaria, Spain
- Thailand
- Tenerife, Spain
- Cyprus
- Egypt
- Lanzarote, Spain
- Crete, Greece
- Cape Verde
- Rhodes, Greece
- Turkey (Antalya Coast)
Unrest in Tanzania – these African destinations are being booked instead
Tanzania usually attracts many tourists who want to experience safaris in the Serengeti, visit Kilimanjaro or sunbathe and swim in Zanzibar. The unrest in the country has now had a clear impact on travel bookings. According to statistics from travel agency Ticket, booking levels for winter are about 35 percent lower than at the same time last year.
At the same time, an increase of a total of 29 percent is visible for various other countries in Africa. South Africa stands out: bookings there more than tripled before the winter. The 5 most booked destinations in Africa this winter:
- Egypt
- Cape Verde
- Morocco
- South Africa
- Mauritius
Several new direct flights from Sweden this winter
The winter of 2025/2026 will offer several new direct connections from Swedish airports. The hotel and travel search site momondo has mapped out the new direct flights from Sweden for this winter, and it’s just in time; Nearly two in three Swedes say direct flights are the most important factor when booking their flights – an increase from the year before.
New direct flights from Stockholm in winter 2025/2026
- Skopje, North Macedonia
- Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt
- Cluj-Napoca, Romania
- Chisinau, Moldavian
New direct flights from Gothenburg in winter 2025/2026
New direct flights from Malmö in winter 2025/2026
- Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina
The abolished visa requirement ensures more travel to China
In recent years, China has opened visa-free travel to more than 70 countries to restart and internationalize tourism. Citizens of almost all European countries – including Norway, Denmark and Finland – can travel to the country visa-free.
It is now clear that even Swedish travelers will be able to travel to China without a visa from November 10. Rolfs Flyg & Buss, which has long organized group trips to China, is preparing for the increased demand with several new departures and types of trips.
Sweden’s desire to travel to the US continues to decline
A year after Donald Trump’s election victory, Sweden’s interest in the United States continues to decline. So far this year, the number of Swedes who have booked trips to the US has fallen by around 20 percent compared to the same period last year, according to new statistics from travel agency Ticketshow. The travel agency’s latest research also shows that reluctance to travel to the country has increased over the year.
Although travel to the United States is declining, the country is still one of the most popular countries to travel to. Classic destinations such as New York, Los Angeles and Miami continue to attract Swedes, even though there are fewer bookings.
This is the world’s best layover airport
Every year, more than 1.5 billion air travelers make a stopover en route. To find out where travelers can really enjoy their layover, AirAdvisor analyzed 50 major airports and ranked the top 10 in the world for a layover, based on the number of restaurants, cafes, shops, rest and sleeping areas, hygiene facilities and entertainment options. Top 10 airports for a layover
- Tokyo Haneda (HND), Japan
- Istanbul (IST), Turkey
- Singapore Changi (SIN), Singapore
- Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW), USA
- London Heathrow (LHR), Storbritannien
- Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG), France
- Doha Hamad (DOH), Qatar
- Seoul Incheon (ICN), Sydkorea
- Munich (MUC), Germany
- Hong Kong (HKG), Hong Kong
Birka Gotland will sail to Gdansk in the summer of 2026
The tickets for Birka Gotland’s destination cruises for the 2026 season have recently been released. The big news this year are two cruises to Gdansk, Poland, departing on August 30 and September 13, 2026 respectively.
Birka Gotland, the Baltic Sea’s only thoroughbred cruise ship, sails mainly between Stockholm, Mariehamn and Visby. In 2026, longer trips to Baltic Sea destinations such as the High Coast, Bornholm and Riga will also be offered.
This week’s reflection
Yes, campers certainly spend money when they travel, which is valuable to the municipalities. Another advantage of RV travelers is that they are on the road for a large part of the year and can help extend the season. But sometimes it feels like some municipalities forget to think about these tourists – that’s why it’s good that HRF draws attention to this!
Did you miss the previous travel news? Read Travel News week 45: Resorts, electric planes and travel guides
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