Sweden marks record year for tourism
Tourists in Sweden spent 317 billion kronor in 2017, enough to make it the top year for tourism of all time.
The figure marked a 7.4 percent increase compared to 2016, which in turn marks the highest year-on-year growth since 2006.
"This is an excellent figure for Swedish economy and employment," said Gunilla Nordlöf, the head of the Swedish Agency for Economic and Regional Growth (Tillväxtverket), which released the figures on Friday.
Global trends show that it's the international tourists who are bringing in the big bucks, and this is especially true for Sweden.
In 2017, it was the visitors from abroad who were responsible for 42 percent of the total tourist expenditure, up from just 27 percent in 2000.
Nordlöf told the TT news agency that a weak krona was partially responsible for the extra tourists.
FOR MEMBERS: What does the weak Swedish krona mean for you?
The United Nations expects international tourism to rise 3.3 percent each year up until 2030, with Sweden hoping to enjoy the fruits of this growth.
Indeed, tourism made up 6.3 percent of Sweden's total exports in 2017, up from 4.7 percent in 2012.
So what's making the tourists choose Sweden?
Well, the nature is one massive drawcard, according to Ewa Lagerqvist, the CEO of Visit Sweden, who says there's been an especially high increase in visitors from the US, India, and China.
"It's mostly the nature that is attracting people. Many people who elsewhere in the world think it's really exciting to see and experience our open and natural lifestyle," she told TT.
"Sweden is becoming a new and fresh alternative for those who've already done the more traditional kind of holidays."
READ ALSO: 10 romantic Swedish towns to visit in 2018
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The figure marked a 7.4 percent increase compared to 2016, which in turn marks the highest year-on-year growth since 2006.
"This is an excellent figure for Swedish economy and employment," said Gunilla Nordlöf, the head of the Swedish Agency for Economic and Regional Growth (Tillväxtverket), which released the figures on Friday.
Global trends show that it's the international tourists who are bringing in the big bucks, and this is especially true for Sweden.
In 2017, it was the visitors from abroad who were responsible for 42 percent of the total tourist expenditure, up from just 27 percent in 2000.
Nordlöf told the TT news agency that a weak krona was partially responsible for the extra tourists.
FOR MEMBERS: What does the weak Swedish krona mean for you?
The United Nations expects international tourism to rise 3.3 percent each year up until 2030, with Sweden hoping to enjoy the fruits of this growth.
Indeed, tourism made up 6.3 percent of Sweden's total exports in 2017, up from 4.7 percent in 2012.
So what's making the tourists choose Sweden?
Well, the nature is one massive drawcard, according to Ewa Lagerqvist, the CEO of Visit Sweden, who says there's been an especially high increase in visitors from the US, India, and China.
"It's mostly the nature that is attracting people. Many people who elsewhere in the world think it's really exciting to see and experience our open and natural lifestyle," she told TT.
"Sweden is becoming a new and fresh alternative for those who've already done the more traditional kind of holidays."
READ ALSO: 10 romantic Swedish towns to visit in 2018
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