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Interest in motorhome, new cruise and underwater hotel

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The weeks are flying by and it's Monday again. We (Peter and Helena at FREEDOMtravel) are in Åland, but as usual on Mondays we will of course summarise some travel news here. Stay tuned!

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Decrease in registration of motorhomes and caravans

May's registration figures show a decrease for both caravans and motorhomes, although the loss of motorhomes was only 26 vehicles, according to the National Association of the Caravan and Motorhome Industry (HSR). However, interest in mobile accommodation remains high and dealers report many visitors coming to look at the products. Sales of used vehicles are reported to remain at unchanged levels.

  • Caravan registrations May 2023: 337 caravans (corresponding month last year: 543)
  • Motorhome registrations May 2023: 448 mobile homes (corresponding month last year: 474)

Increased interest in holidaying with motorhomes and caravans

Six out of ten Swedes (62%) would consider taking a holiday with a motorhome or caravan, or are already doing so. When the same survey was conducted a year ago, the figure was 55 per cent. This is according to a Sifo survey conducted by motorhome and caravan dealer Forsbergs Fritidscenter. Freedom is the biggest attraction, according to more than eight out of ten. This is how Swedes answer why they want to holiday with a motorhome/caravan:

  • Freedom to go wherever I want (84%)
  • Ability to do different activities (48%)
  • Affordable holidays (30 %)
  • Community (12%)
  • Meet new people (7%)
  • Safe (6%)

These are the politicians Swedes prefer to travel with

A Sifo survey conducted on behalf of Ticket shows that Magdalena Andersson is the politician that most Swedish travellers would like to travel with. Only 10 per cent chose Stefan Löfven in the corresponding Sifo survey in 2018, when the leader of the Social Democratic Party came in sixth place. The survey shows major differences in different parts of the country. Magdalena Andersson received the most votes in Värmland, Dalarna and Gävleborg, and the least in the Malmö area. These are the politicians we prefer to travel with:

  • Magdalena Andersson (19%)
  • Ebba Busch (14%)
  • Nooshi Dadgostar (10%)
  • Jimmie Åkesson (7%)
  • Ulf Kristersson (6%)
  • Johan Pehrson (3%)
  • Märta Stenevi (2%)

Viking Line launches cruises to Riga

In December, the Baltic Sea pleasure cruiser Viking Cinderella will set sail for the first time in more than a decade, heading for Riga. On the second and third Advent, the ship departs from Stadsgårdskajen in Stockholm to the beautiful capital of Latvia. During the three-day cruise, guests can get in the right mood with the Swedish National Culinary Team's high-quality Christmas table and visit the famous Christmas market on Riga's Cathedral Square. The trip includes two nights on board and one day in Riga.

Charter to Tenerife from Skellefteå Airport

This year, TUI has a large charter offer from Skellefteå Airport with trips to Gran Canaria, Rhodes and Antalya. But since the demand for charter trips from the Skellefteå region is great, the travel company now chooses to expand the offer with another charter line to southern Tenerife. The trips to Tenerife will be launched this winter and operated during the period 19 December 2023 to 13 February 2024.

Premiere of Furuvik's new Lightning roller coaster

On Saturday, 3 June, Furuvik finally opened the new Lightning - Built for Speed roller coaster, which is undoubtedly the biggest attraction in Furuvik's history. Lightning is a so-called "Launch Coaster" where you go off right at the start and accelerate up to 75 km/h in three seconds. What's more, the train doesn't just do one lap but two. After the first lap, you glide through the station, where you usually get off, but instead of stopping, you start again with the same acceleration as before.

Lightning at Furuvik, photo: Fredrik Söder

The sea is deep: Hotels.com lists the best underwater hotels

Everyone loves a room with a view, whether it's of a city skyline, a scenic landscape or a remote desert, and now Hotels.com is taking it to the next level... more specifically, under the sea. At these underwater hotels, you can literally visit the depths of the ocean, sleep with the fishes and let the waves rock you to sleep. Hotels.com has compiled a list of underwater hotels worth diving into:  

  • Muraka Conrad Maldives - Mandhoo, Maldives
  • The Apurva Kempinski Bali - Bali, Indonesia
  • Atlantis, The Palm - Dubai, United Arab Emirates
  • Intercontinental Shanghai Wonderland - Shanghai, China
  • Hurawalhi Island Resort - Hurawalhi, Maldives
Muraka Conrad Maldives in the Maldives

Reflection of the week

While new motorhome registrations are declining, interest is increasing. It sounds strange, but it could be true. Delivery times for new motorhomes are long and the second-hand market is hot.

Did you miss the last travel news? Read the Cheap countries, summer events and jubilee carriage

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