Markets
The Norwegian Market
Norway offers visitors a lot of diversity: from urban culture to unique outdoor experiences, from exquisite food to high art. Travel is deeply rooted in the Norwegian culture – and the country is becoming trendier by the day as a tourist destination. Plus, Norway’s geographical location, its low population density, the Norwegians’ respectful approach to nature, top-notch infrastructure and peacefulness and the government’s cautious handling of the corona pandemic only serve to increase its popularity.Five major markets
Norway is not a single market – there are a variety of interesting destinations airlines can look into. It is useful to think of Norway as five major markets, each having their own profiles in terms of leisure, business and VFR travel. Learn more on the following pages – and please contact us to discuss the data and developments and find out more about our assessments of each market.
Markets
Oslo: the new star in Scandinavia
Oslo is Norway’s fast-growing cultural, governmental and economic centre. More and more tourists come for the Oslo experience, while new attractions will open their doors in 2020 to take the capital even further. On top of that, Norway’s business centre is the seat of large companies as well as a vibrant start-up scene.
Markets
Bergen: the "cultural fjord capital"
Bergen’s many attractions from nature to culture as well as its thriving industries have led to steady growth in international traffic. Idyllically situated at the entrance to some of the most majestic fjords in the world, Bergen’s growth is continuing. The city of some 300,000 inhabitants annually hosted over 3 million visitors before the corona pandemic.
Markets
Trondheim: new forms of tourism and Norway’s technology hub
With its new motto "Trondheim – Home of Nordic Flavours", the tourism agencies are setting the tone: new products and itineraries are being developed to attract tourists from the US, Europe and Asia. Trondheim has seen a growing share of leisure travel. A growing immigrant population and VFR segment lead to regular traffic, as does a vibrant tech start-up and business scene that is growing exponentially.
Markets
Stavanger: "Europe’s energy capital" is undergoing an exciting transformation
Stavanger is Norway’s powerhouse: called “Europe’s energy capital” since the discovery of oil in 1965, the region is now undergoing a transformation towards renewable energy, tech industries and tourism. The consequence: rising leisure traffic and high-yield business traffic from future-oriented industries.
Markets
Northern Norway: spectacular growth
Northern Norway offers the world’s best access to experience the visual magic of aurora borealis, the Northern Lights. The number of visitors is growing fast. Together with its excellent infrastructure, increasing hotel capacity and development, there is no end in sight for this trend.
Route opportunities
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Mathilde Svartdal Endresen
Marketing Specialist Traffic Development
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Key numbers
Population 2020
5.4
million
82%
Urban population (2019)
18%
Rural population (2019)
52,153
Net migration (2019)
3,8%
Unemployment (01.2020)
$450
Billion GDP per capita (2019)
#6
Global sustainable competitiveness index (2019)
#3
GDP per capita, Europe (2019)
#3
Consumption per capita, Europe (2018)
A culture of travellers
Norway has a long tradition of exploring and travelling, going back to the Viking times. Due to Norway’s geography, air travel plays a decisive role in the country – even on very short routes. Trips abroad have increased from 4.5 million to 7.2 million per year between 2002 and 2015.
Offering a diverse experience, Norway is profiting from the increasing demand for a variety of attractions on a holiday trip, for example in the family sector. Visitors can experience the trendy urban life in Oslo, dubbed “the new capital of Scandi-cool” by the New York Times, go to concerts and visit museums, take a day-trip to the world-famous fjords or experience the Northern Lights at some of the best spots in the world – to name a few.
According to a survey by Innovation Norway, 68 % of the target group associate Norway with an “exciting culture and history”, a plus of 16 % compared to just a few years ago, while 25 % more are sure a holiday in Norway offers exciting city experiences. This shows that Norway is increasingly seen as providing a diverse experience beyond the traditionally strong nature and outdoor sectors.
As a tourist destination, Norway’s popularity is steadily increasing in many parts of the world, including Asia, Europe and the US. This trend seems to be accelerating and the country has much going for it even in the post-Corona world: a huge space with a population of just five million, an excellent infrastructure and highest medical standards, lots of remote places and a very peaceful culture all make Norway a compelling choice for tourists.
A vibrant economy
The Norwegian economy features a mix of a vibrant private sector and a large state sector, while the country’s social safety net guarantees stability for its citizens. Norway is ranked first in the UNDP’s 2019 Human Development Index Ranking.
Rich in natural resources, Norway is one of the leading petroleum exporters and the second largest seafood exporter. But the Norwegian economy is not just about natural resources: it has developed a very dynamic high-tech and start-up sector complete with world-class academic institutions and large industries in the renewable energy and technology sectors.
All these developments lead to many profitable route opportunities. Don’t hesitate to contact us to talk about numbers, underserved and unserved routes and how we can work together to make it happen!
Source: fjords.com
Photographer: Øyvind Heen
Source: Explore Trøndelag
Photographer: Marius Rua Buckethaus
