Travel news: Ving purchases, global situation and light art festival

By: Editorial Office | Source: press material

It's Monday again, and we're publishing travel news here at FREEDOMtravel. This week it's all about everything from world affairs to local news. Stay tuned!

Norwegian buys Ving and Spies

Norwegian has entered into an agreement to acquire Nordic Leisure Travel Group (NLTG) for approximately SEK 7.9 billion. The deal includes well-known brands such as Ving, Spies, Tjäreborg, Globetrotter and Sunclass Airlines.

The acquisition represents a strategic shift where Norwegian, together with Widerøe, strengthens its position and becomes a complete Nordic travel group within flights, hotels and package tours. At the same time, previous owners – including Petter Stordalen – become new major shareholders in Norwegian. The deal is expected to be completed in the second half of 2026, subject to regulatory approvals.

7 out of 10 Swedes blow their holiday budget

Seven out of ten Swedes say they spend more money than they intended during the summer holidays. At the same time, only 9 percent go into the summer with a clear budget that they follow. This is shown by a new survey that Sambla commissioned Syno to conduct among 1,000 Swedes aged 18–80.

• 9 % has a clear budget that they follow
• 47 % has a rough plan but no strict budget
• 28 % has not planned the finances for the summer
• 16 % takes the costs as they come without planning

Younger adults stand out as the group that most often overspends their summer budget. Among people between the ages of 18 and 34, about three in four say they sometimes or often spend more than they intended.

4 out of 10 Swedes plan to travel abroad despite the global situation

Swedes' desire to travel is continuing despite an uncertain global situation. A new survey from travel company TUI shows that 43 percent plan to travel abroad in the coming year, while almost one in four say that the global security situation affects their choice of vacation.

At the same time, almost one in four (24 percent) states that geopolitical factors such as the security situation in the world and political conflicts influence their holiday choice. An equal proportion cites safety at the destination as an important factor. The survey also shows that older people are affected to a lesser extent than younger people. Top 10 – Where Swedes are travelling to this summer according to TUI:

1. Crete, Greece
2. Rhodes, Greece
3. Cyprus
4. Mallorca, Spain
5. Samos, Greece
6. Gran Canaria, Spain
7. Kos, Greece
8. Antalya Coast, Turkey
9. Croatia
10. Zakynthos, Greece

World Cup boosts US travel – bookings up 51 percent

Since Sweden secured a place in the World Cup, travel bookings to USA increased by 51 percent compared to the same period last year, according to statistics from the travel agency Ticket.

Outside the World Cup period, the increase is more modest. The overall booking situation for trips to the US, based on trips booked in 2026, is 13 percent higher than during the same period in 2025. At the same time, bookings are still 15 percent below 2024 levels.

Peace agreement gives new boost to summer travel – 18 percent

After a period of unrest in Middle East The announcement of a preliminary agreement between the US and Iran raised hopes for more stable developments in the region. Since it was announced on Saturday that an agreement would be signed this week, oil prices have fallen to their lowest level since before the Iran war, reducing costs for airlines and creating better conditions for lower airfares.

The reduced uncertainty has also already affected Swedes' vacation plans, and since the preliminary agreement was announced, travel bookings have increased by 18 percent compared to the same period last year, according to travel agency Ticket.

This is how Swedes take charging breaks

Driving an electric car for long distances is synonymous with charging breaks, which electric car drivers see as positive, according to a new survey conducted by Norstat on behalf of Ziklo Bank. Almost half, 4 out of 10 electric car drivers, view the charging break as something positive, twice as many are positive as negative. This is what Swedes do during the charging break:

1. Going to the toilet (60 %)
2. Eating food (56 %)
3. Moves/stretches (55 %)
4. Coffees (50 %)
5. Sitting in the car (30 %)
6. Scrolls (28 %)
7. Shops (24 %)
8. Resting (27 %)
9. Lets the children play (11 %)
10. Run errands (15 %)

International light art festival lights up Smögen

Art shines brighter than ever ahead of the seventh edition of the Island of Light light art festival in Smögen, September 4–13. This year's program brings together both Swedish and international artists who present well-known works and brand new installations – several with world premieres during the festival. At the same time, the number of visitors is expected to break records.

One of the year's major highlights is expected to be the work of the internationally acclaimed Miguel Chevalier. Post-Natural: Living Plankton – a site-specific light installation inspired by plankton species in combination with algae and organic plant forms modeled in 3D.

Did you miss the last travel news? Read the Camping, football and All Inclusive