Author: Editorial Manager
February Newsletter: Exciting Developments on Öland As we move through the winter months, Öland continues to offer unique experiences for visitors. From peaceful nature walks to cozy spa packages, there’s something for everyone even in the colder season. New Leadership for Öland’s Tourism Johan Rustan has officially started as the new CEO of Öland’s tourism organization on February 1st. With his extensive experience, Johan aims to build stronger relationships with local businesses and develop Öland’s tourism industry. He emphasizes the importance of collaboration, stating: “We must meet if we are to build relationships. It’s important that we do the job…
Sports Announced for SM-veckan Winter 2025 in Borås Borås is set to host the SM-veckan (Swedish Championship Week) Winter 2025 from February 3-9, marking its first time hosting the winter edition of this prestigious event. The city previously hosted the summer version in 2014 and 2017, making this the southernmost winter SM-veckan to date. New and Returning Sports The lineup for SM-veckan Winter 2025 includes an exciting mix of new and traditional sports: Dart makes its debut at SM-veckan Water polo and mini-golf, typically summer sports, join the winter program Badminton, indoor rowing, and tug of war return to the…
A Heart on Stora Torget to Thank Borås Residents and Realize the Dream of Borås As Valentine’s Day approaches, a glowing heart has appeared on Stora Torget (Main Square) in Borås, Sweden. This illuminated installation marks the first step in bringing the “Dream of Borås” project into its next phase – making the vision a reality. Expressing Gratitude and Love for the City Center Anna Liljenby, Urban Life Coordinator at Borås TME, explains the significance: “The heart symbolizes a big and warm thank you to all Borås residents who have engaged in the future of the city center by sharing…
Östersund Participates in Global Sustainability Ranking for Destinations Destination Östersund is joining the Global Destination Sustainability Index (GDSI) and its associated network, the Global Destination Sustainability Movement (GDSM), in 2024. This initiative will evaluate Östersund as a sustainable destination, comparing it with around 100 international destinations. Östersund’s participation in this measurement is part of a larger effort led by Destination Östersund to drive the development towards a more sustainable tourism industry and create a better place for residents, businesses, and visitors. A Common Thread in Sustainability Work Östersund has made significant progress in sustainable development, with ambitious goals set by…
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…
Örebro Sets New Tourism Record Thanks to Europeans and South Koreans Despite global uncertainties, 2023 marked the year when Örebro’s tourism industry fully recovered from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. The city recorded a total of 749,443 guest nights, surpassing the previous record set in 2019 by more than 10,000 nights. This data comes from the annual statistics recently published by the Swedish Agency for Economic and Regional Growth and Statistics Sweden. Compared to the previous year, the number of guest nights increased by over 30,000 or 4.5%. Both domestic and international overnight stays saw an increase, with Swedish…
FIA Winter Eco Rally Returns to Östersund Östersund is proud to host the FIA Winter Eco Rally for the second consecutive year from January 25-27, 2024. This event is part of the international Bridgestone FIA ECO Rally Cup 2024 and is the only Nordic stop on the tour. The rally features standard electric vehicles powered by 100% renewable wind and hydroelectric energy. Competitors drive on public roads, with ideal time and energy consumption being the key factors in determining the winner. About 30 cars will navigate through over 200 checkpoints, with rally stages to Gräftåvallen on January 26 and Gåxsjö…
Youth Sports Tournaments Bring 150 Million SEK to Skåne’s Tourism Industry Over 40,000 visitors from across Sweden and around the world were drawn to Skåne last year to participate in sports tournaments for children and young people. These popular events provide an abundance of joy through physical activity and generate significant revenue for the tourism and retail sectors, according to a new study conducted by Visit Skåne. The handball and basketball tournament Lundaspelen saw a record number of participants, Åhus Beach had more registrations than ever before, and Eskilscupen in Helsingborg reported record-breaking figures. A broad upswing is noticeable across…
Christmas Tree Maze in Östersund Vandalized In a disappointing turn of events, the Christmas Tree Maze in Östersund, Sweden, which opened last Saturday, has been severely vandalized. The maze, created by Destination Östersund, had quickly become a popular attraction, drawing hundreds of visitors despite the cold weather. Calle Hedman from Destination Östersund shared the unfortunate news: “We spent over 130 work hours last week to get everything ready. We rented concrete blocks, bought many meters of wire and wooden poles to make all the trees stand up. Unfortunately, on Sunday morning, we were met with the sight that some people…
Famous Names Discuss the Importance of Cultural Tourism for Sweden’s Image Visit Skåne is shining a spotlight on cultural tourism and Sweden’s international image. At the national convention Folk och Kultur in Eskilstuna on February 7-9, Visit Skåne will host a panel discussion with some of the country’s most renowned experts and decision-makers in the cultural sector, moderated by Heidi Avellan, political editor-in-chief of Sydsvenskan and Helsingborgs Dagblad. Visit Skåne plays a central role in managing and developing Skåne’s image, which is strongly influenced by Sweden’s overall image. In light of the ongoing, sometimes negative, exposure of Sweden in international…