Sweden's wilds top tourism wish list

Kungsleden (The King's Trail), Astrid Lindgren's World, Stockholm Adventure and Åre ski resort are among the candidates nominated for the title of "Best experience in Sweden" which will be decided Eurovision-style at a gala in the autumn.

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The Göta canal shipping company, Stockholm's Skansen animal park and Säfsen resort complete the the list of Swedish tourism highlights nominated by French, German, Spanish, British, Dutch, Italian, Russian and US travel companies.

"There is a lot nature, culture and wilderness this year which shows that Sweden is appreciated for its environment," said Anneli Sundström at The Swedish Travel and Tourist Industry Federation (Rese- och Turistnäringen i Sverige - RTS) to The Local.

While Kungsleden, a 440 kilometre long hiking trail passing through one of Europe's largest remaining wildernesses, and the trans-Sweden Göta canal, would appear obvious choices, Sundström welcomed their nomination.

"There is just so much in the north of Sweden and tourism can seem quite spread out. Göta canal is also a niche experience that has not been chosen before."

The selection of Astrid Lindgren's World in Vimmerby in southern Sweden comes after the Millennium trilogy tour was nominated in 2009 and is interpreted to indicate that Swedish literature is experiencing a booming interest at the moment.

"Last year with Stieg Larsson and this year with Astrid Lindgren, it would seem something of a trend," Sundström said.

A further newcomer to the list is Stockholm Adventures, a firm which organises wildlife experiences in and around Sweden's capital city.

"The candidates represent those experiences, defined as bookable and with an identifiable supplier, which have managed to penetrate the foreign tourist market," Sundström said.

The winner will be announced at the Swedish Travel and Tourism Gala in October after the respective nominating partners have had a chance to study films of the seven candidates made by RTS during the summer.

"Just like the Eurovision Song Contest, they will receive the same candidates to consider and the ambassadors from the various partner countries will read out the results of their jury."