Foreign visitors flock to Sweden, with Göteborg seeing the biggest increase

Foreign visitors are driving a surge in Sweden's tourism sector, with Göteborg emerging as a particular hotspot. In the first four months of the year, overnight stays by international visitors rose by 5.8%, a stark contrast to the modest 1.1% increase seen from domestic travelers.

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It's cheaper than in Oslo and the shrimp sandwiches are famous.

Göteborg has experienced a remarkable 9.5% increase in overnight stays, significantly outperforming the national average. This growth is primarily attributed to a substantial influx of Norwegian tourists, whose visits to Göteborg surged by 27% compared to the same period last year. This trend highlights a shift, as Norwegian visitors to Stockholm increased by a more moderate 10%.

The appeal of Göteborg for Norwegians is multifaceted, with affordability compared to Oslo and its famous shrimp sandwiches cited as key attractions. This has led to Norwegians becoming the largest group of foreign visitors in Göteborg, surpassing even those from the United States. The city's hotel occupancy rates in March stood at 63%, higher than both Stockholm and Malmö.

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We have a peak with American visitors here during the summer. But there are also many business travelers, we have about twenty global headquarters here, and Arlanda plays a big role in that.

Overall, foreign guest nights in Göteborg increased by 17.9% in the first four months of the year, nearly four times the growth rate of Swedish overnight stays in the city. While Stockholm also saw a strong increase of 15% in foreign visitors, Göteborg's growth rate was notably higher. Stockholm's tourism is bolstered by a significant number of business travelers and its role as a hub for global headquarters, attracting many American visitors during the summer.

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We see a small increase in Americans, and in total we believe in plus four percent in visitors this year.