Active holidays in the northern countries are becoming increasingly popular. Travel agencies specializing in northwestern Europe and Scandinavia say the demand for holidays in that region is growing.
For example, Buro Scanbrit sees “nice growth” in the number of bookings to countries in the North this summer, compared to last year. Tours in Norway and Denmark are especially popular. The spokesperson says that trips to Scotland and Ireland are also becoming more popular than they were a year ago.
The spokesperson says the ANWB’s web pages about Northern Europe are being visited more often than before. “Scandinavia has become a major destination for summer holidays.”
The Nordic industry peer realizes the increasing demand. Where previously families and elderly people sought peace and space in the North, now there are also more teenagers, says director Hugo van Dre. “We see a younger target group who would rather go for a sporting walk in the mountains than drink a coma on a street bar in the Spanish coast.” According to Nordic, it seems more people need a “holiday experience.” Sunweb Group also sees this. “Sunweb customers choose the Alps more in the summer than was the case a few years ago. This goes hand in hand with the rising trend and popularity of more active holidays.”
Sun, sea and beach
However, sun, sea and beach remain popular ingredients for many Dutch people for their next summer vacation. In April, a representative survey of ANWB members showed that nearly a third of Dutch holidaymakers choose to holiday in southern Europe this year.
“A lot of people go on vacation for the sun and the Mediterranean atmosphere,” says a spokesperson for travel organization TUI, which has seen vacations to Spain, Greece and Turkey sell well this year. When it comes to a car holiday, Denmark tops the list, followed by Lake Garda in Italy.
In the Sunweb Group, which includes the Eliza Was Here, GOGO and Primavera brands as well as Sunweb, popular products include the Greek and Spanish Islands and Turkey. Corendon also sees the number of bookings for Southern Europe going well. A spokesperson says cruises are also becoming more popular, not just in the Mediterranean, but also in the Norwegian fjords, England and Scotland.
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