Travel news: Mission on motorhome tourism and how young Swedes travel

By: Editorial Office | Source: press material

Monday and a new week, which of course means travel news here at FREEDOMtravel. This week, the focus is on the approaching spring and summer season - and it's about camping as well as air travel.

February was a record month for Wasaline

Wasaline reports its best February since the start of traffic in 2013. A total of 18,191 passengers travelled with the shipping company during the month, which means an increase of 11 percent compared to the same period last year.

A contributing factor to the increase is the concept of ice cruises, which has proven to be very popular. Several groups from Europe have chosen to travel with Wasaline to experience the winter landscape of the Kvarken region.

Forbes highlights the Zagreb Light Festival

Festival of Lights Zagreb has received significant international recognition. The prestigious business magazine Forbes has included the festival in its list of the most sought-after European events to visit this year.

Every spring, the festival transforms Zagreb's streets, squares and historic buildings into a spectacular scene of light installations, projections and artistic experiences. Over several days, artists from Croatia and other countries create a unique atmosphere where art, technology and the city's architecture meet. The Light Festival takes place from 18-22 March this year.

Tutankhamun - The Immersive Exhibition approaches 70,000 visitors

Interest in Tutankhamun - The Immersive Exhibition in Stockholm continues to be high. The acclaimed immersive exhibition is now approaching 70,000 visitors and has become one of the major public successes of the winter in the capital. The exhibition is now entering its final weeks in Stockholm. 22 March is the last day for visitors to experience the exhibition before it closes.

Record interest in camping after the attacks in the Middle East

The unstable global situation means that more and more Swedes are choosing to holiday at home. Since the attacks in the Middle East began, summer bookings at First Camp, Sweden's largest camping chain, are up 22 per cent compared to the same period last year.

”Just as in previous periods of global uncertainty, we see that more and more Swedes are opting out of air travel abroad and choosing to holiday at home instead. Our online booking has reached record levels recently”, says Johan Söör, CEO of First Camp.

Travel bookings increase despite Middle East turmoil

The recent events in the Middle East have raised questions about how travel is affected. But according to booking statistics from the travel agency Ticket, there are no signs that the desire to travel has slowed down. On the contrary, bookings increased by 14 per cent last week compared to the same period last year. Top 10 - most booked destinations right now:

1. Malaga
2. London
3. Alicante
4. Barcelona
5. Bangkok
6. Majorca
7. Amsterdam
8. Paris
9. Gran Canaria
10. Nice

Four classic Strömma tours return for spring and summer

For the spring and summer season 2026, Strömma is reopening several of its classic archipelago tours departing from Stockholm and Gothenburg after the winter break. Historic ships take guests to unique destinations from Sandhamn in the outer archipelago to Lake Mälaren.

• Guided full-day excursion to Sandhamn
• Dinner cruise around Hisingen in the Gothenburg archipelago
• Lunch cruise to Drottningholm World Heritage Site
• A full day in the archipelago with the Thousand Islands Cruise

The region gives Visit Skåne the task of growing motorhome tourism

Motorhome tourism in Skåne is growing rapidly and is expected to increase further. Visit Skåne is now taking an integrated approach to development on behalf of Region Skåne. The work includes conducting a feasibility study and analysing how motorhome tourism can be developed sustainably in the region in the long term.

The project will be implemented in 2026 and will map the current situation and analyse challenges. If developed correctly, motorhome tourism will lead to an increased regional spread of visitors and more opportunities for companies in the tourism industry. At the same time, the rapid growth poses challenges.

In many parts of Europe, issues such as littering, lack of service areas and illegal pitching have become apparent as the number of motorhomes increases. To avoid similar problems in Skåne, where the issue is also complicated by how to understand and act in accordance with the right of public access, joint solutions are also needed between municipalities, authorities and businesses.

Young Swedes put travelling first

A new Hotels.com survey shows that travelling, regardless of your wallet, remains one of the most important priorities in everyday life - especially for young adults.  

In fact, the desire to travel is so strong that many people are prepared to spend on everyday luxuries to finance their trips. Almost half of Swedes spend money on restaurants (48 %), shopping (47 %) and luxury food (46 %) to secure their holiday funds. Other interesting findings from the survey: 

• Travelling is crucial for well-being: A majority (53 %) see travelling as absolutely necessary for mental health. Among Gen Z (18-29 years), the figure is a whopping 69 %, compared to 42 % among the oldest.
• Smart tricks to make your travel budget last longer: The most popular tactics are booking well in advance (40 %), looking for deals (34 %) and travelling in low season (33 %). Gen Z is best at ”down-starring” (3-star instead of a 5-star hotel).
• Young people are planning more trips: 23 % of Swedes plan to travel more often in the next 12 months. Gen Z stands out, with 38 % planning more trips, while only 15 % of the oldest generation do so.

Did you miss the last travel news? Read the Affordable travel destinations and Sweden's best weekend cities