Falkenberg Sets New Record for Overnight Stays
Falkenberg, a municipality in Sweden’s Halland County, has achieved a remarkable milestone in its tourism industry. The year 2023 saw Falkenberg breaking its previous record for overnight stays, surpassing even the peak year of 2019. This achievement has positioned Falkenberg as the leading destination in Halland for overnight stays and the only municipality in the region to show positive growth in 2023, according to preliminary statistics from the Swedish Agency for Economic and Regional Growth and Statistics Sweden.
Impressive Growth in Tourism
Compared to 2022, Falkenberg experienced a significant increase of 38,637 overnight stays, representing a 4.6% growth. The total number of overnight stays reached an impressive 880,647. Both domestic and international visitors contributed to this growth, with Swedish overnight stays increasing by 3.6% and foreign stays by 15.1%.
Kristján Fannar, destination developer at Destination Falkenberg, commented: “We should also remember that we have almost as many non-commercial overnight stays, which means we can essentially double the figures for the number of overnight stays in Falkenberg.”
Year-Round Appeal
Falkenberg demonstrated positive growth in ten out of twelve months in 2023. The low season saw the most significant percentage increases, with January up by 30%, February by 19.5%, and December by 20.2%. Even during the high season, Falkenberg experienced growth, with June up by 7% and July by 4.2%.
“The substantial increase outside the high season is particularly gratifying as it’s a period we’re actively working to develop,” explains Kristján Fannar.
International Visitor Growth
Falkenberg also saw positive growth from its three primary nearby markets: Norway, Denmark, and Germany. Norwegian visits increased by 9.4%, Danish by 37%, and German by an impressive 42%.
A Destination on the Rise
These statistics highlight Falkenberg’s growing appeal as a year-round destination, attracting both domestic and international visitors. The municipality’s success in developing its tourism offerings outside the traditional high season is particularly noteworthy, indicating a strategic approach to sustainable tourism growth.
For more information and to see Kristján Fannar present this year’s figures, visit the official video presentation.