Author: Editorial Manager
CEO Newsletter September 2024 – Update from Next Skövde’s CEO Mats Olsson More Young People Want to Work in Hotels and Tourism For the third year in a row, applications to hotel and tourism programs have increased significantly. The programs certified and quality assured by Visita have seen the highest demand. Heinz Glöckler, project manager at Visita, notes: “We’ve seen this trend for three years now, with certified programs leading the way. They’ve developed their processes with the hotel industry helping schools market the range of jobs available in hotels.” He believes many young people are attracted by modern hotels…
Record-Breaking Year for Wrestling Tournament in Umeå The annual Umeå Wrestling Battle, one of Sweden’s largest wrestling competitions, is set to take place from October 11-13. This year’s event is breaking all records with an unprecedented number of participants from around the world. “This year we’re breaking all records in the number of registered wrestlers with 694 participants from 97 clubs, 3 continents, and 12 countries. It’s an incredible range, from national team wrestlers to 7-year-old beginners and sharp seniors. It’s incredibly exciting,” says Samuel Eriksson, organizer at Umeå Wrestling. The Umeå Wrestling Battle, held at the Umeå Energi Arena,…
Kalmar to Host Agility World Championship 2025 Kalmar, Sweden is set to welcome the world’s top agility competitors as it prepares to host the Agility World Championship from September 17-21, 2025. This prestigious event will take place at the Hatstore Arena, marking the second time Sweden has hosted the championship. A Tradition of Dog Events Kalmar has a long history of organizing major dog events, including Hundfesten, Guldagility, and Agility-SM. The 2025 World Championship will be the city’s biggest canine competition yet, attracting the global elite of the sport. What to Expect Around 700 dog-handler teams from 55 countries Approximately…
Linköping: A Thriving Summer Destination with 19% More Overnight Stays Than Pre-Pandemic Linköping continues to attract an increasing number of visitors, solidifying its position as a popular summer destination in Sweden. The city has seen a remarkable 19% growth in overnight stays during the summer months compared to pre-pandemic levels in 2019, significantly outpacing the national average of 2%. Record-Breaking Summer for Linköping During the summer months of June, July, and August 2024, Linköping welcomed a total of 220,603 overnight stays. This represents a 1.2% increase compared to the same period in 2023. The growth is primarily attributed to a…
Equestrian Success Returns to Jönköping Jönköping Horse Show is set to transform the autumn break into a horse-lover’s paradise once again, as the event takes place at Elmia from October 29 to November 3. This equestrian extravaganza has quickly established itself as the go-to meeting place for horse enthusiasts, breaking attendance records year after year. In 2023, Jönköping Horse Show attracted an impressive 22,958 visitors, surpassing previous years’ attendance figures. The event drew spectators from 91 Swedish municipalities and even welcomed international visitors from Denmark, Norway, and Germany. “Horse week has become a popular tradition in Jönköping. It’s exciting that…
Spooky Halloween Event at Halmstad Theater Halmstad Theater is celebrating its 70th anniversary with a spine-chilling Halloween experience. Following last year’s successful “Theater’s Curse” ghost tour, the theater is bringing back the spooks for two nights of haunted fun on October 29-30. This year’s theme, “It’s in the Walls,” ties into the theater’s ongoing renovations and 70th anniversary. Visitors will explore hidden parts of the theater and uncover its dark secrets. The Haunting Story The ghost tour revolves around Alice, an actress who mysteriously disappeared 70 years ago, possibly due to her husband Edgar’s disapproval of her theater career. As…
Sweden’s First Walk of Game Inaugurated in Skövde On October 3, 2024, Skövde unveiled Sweden’s first and only Walk of Game, a unique installation celebrating the city’s prominent role in the video game industry. Located on Rådhusgatan in central Skövde, this gaming-focused version of the Walk of Fame pays tribute to the city’s remarkable achievements in game development. Skövde has established itself as a major player in the global gaming scene through the focused and long-term efforts of Sweden Game Arena. Over the years, more than 100 companies have emerged from the Sweden Game Startup program, with some achieving significant…
Sweden’s First Walk of Game Inaugurated in Skövde On October 3, 2024, Skövde unveiled Sweden’s first and only Walk of Game, a unique installation celebrating the city’s thriving video game industry. Located on Rådhusgatan in central Skövde, this gaming-focused version of the Walk of Fame showcases the city’s significant contributions to the world of video games. Skövde has become a hotspot for game development through the dedicated efforts of Sweden Game Arena. Over 100 companies have emerged from the Sweden Game Startup program, with some achieving remarkable success and selling millions of copies worldwide. Criteria for Inclusion To be featured…
A Summer of Tourism with Many Faces in Örebro The summer of 2024 in Örebro, Sweden, has been a mixed bag for the tourism industry. While some businesses experienced record-breaking success, others faced significant challenges. The main factor influencing these diverse outcomes was the economic situation, with many Swedes having less disposable income due to inflation and increased mortgage rates. Impact on Family Tourism Björn Fransson, Head of Destination Development at Örebrokompaniet, noted: “This has particularly affected the spending patterns of families with children. Many have opted for cheaper alternatives in everything from vacation choices to what they order at…
Lisa Ajax to Conclude This Year’s Music at Larmtorget On Saturday, October 5th, the final concert of this year’s Music at Larmtorget series will take place in Kalmar, featuring Lisa Ajax as the headline act. The event will begin at 4:00 PM with a supporting performance by Tilly Christiansson, selected by the Talent Coach program. Lisa Ajax: A Rising Star Lisa Ajax’s musical journey began at the tender age of six. A decade later, she shot to fame by winning the Swedish Idol competition with her unique voice. Since then, Ajax has participated in Melodifestivalen five times, most recently reaching…