How do Swedes travel? This is what Vagabond's travel barometer tries to answer once a year. We present some key points from this year's barometer and reflect on travelling today and in the future.
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How are Swedes travelling now?
In the last two years, travelling has been different from what we are used to. In 2020, most people stayed at home because of the pandemic. Last year, 2021, travel picked up gently, but there was still a lot more "swimming holidays" compared to previous years. So, how are Swedes travelling now that 2022 has started?
Vagabonds Travel Barometer
The Vagabond Travel Barometer is an independent survey of Swedes' travelling habits. The Travel Barometer, which has been carried out in collaboration with the insurance company Europeiska ERV since 2016, is conducted using a recruited web panel. A total of 7,500 people were surveyed.
The impact of the pandemic and war on travel
Of course, both pandemics and wars affect people's travelling. Generally speaking, uncertainty in the world means that people are looking for a little more security when travelling. According to Vagabond's travel barometer 2022, some trends can be discerned in both the short and long term.
Short-term trends:
- Travel destinations that are perceived as safe
- Master swimmer
- Travelling west and south
- Fewer trips to the east
Long-term trends:
- Crises forgotten - foreign travel on the rise again
- Environmental awareness
- More trains and less flights
- Nature
- Avoiding over-touristy places
Travelling by Swedes in the last five years
The number of trips abroad per year for Swedish adults was fairly stable between 2o17-2019, dipped significantly in 2020, and then increased in 2021, without reaching the same high levels as before.
- 2017: 11.6 million
- 2018: 11 million
- 2019: 12 million
- 2020: 1.9 million
- 2021: 8.2 million
Most popular countries in 2021
When looking at which countries Swedes prefer to visit, the top list is quite similar from year to year. As usual, Spain topped the list last year.
- Spain
- Germany
- Denmark
- Greece
- Finland
- Italy
- Norway
- France
- Turkey
- United Kingdom
How Swedes will travel in the future
The pandemic was not the wake-up call for air travel that many had hoped for. In Vagabond's travel barometer, only 9 per cent responded that they plan to travel less because of the climate. However, around 20 per cent say that they will travel less - but for other reasons. In addition, 20 per cent say they want to travel in more environmentally friendly ways.
Our thoughts on travelling now and in the future
How are Swedes travelling now and in the future? The survey confirms much of what we thought: continued travelling but more nature and more close and safe destinations. We also believe that motorhomes and camping will continue to grow in popularity!
What do you think about the development? Are the answers in the Vagabond Travel Barometer 2022 as you expected?
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Lena+i+Wales+och+Spanien says:
Yes, we have a few years of a different world.
The statistics clearly show that the pandemic has been on the move.
I, in particular, have great experience of this period, both privately and as a tour guide.
Happy Easter!
14 April 2022 - 11:12
Ditte says:
Difficult to say. I have many friends here in Spain with motorhomes but they now think that the costs are skyrocketing to get around Europe as they usually do and are becoming more stationary. In addition to diesel / petrol, they say that the fees have increased a lot at different campsites but that the seasonal rent (here in Spain) has not.
So it seems that it is the cost that makes some people skip long journeys with motorhomes and caravans and stay in nearby areas.
I know that I have lots of travel jobs this summer and it's a definite boost after the pandemic. But no travel destinations in the east are likely to happen.
14 April 2022 - 13:39