Tourism increased to a new record in 2023

Luleå Preliminary statistics from SCB (Statistics Sweden) show that guest nights increased in Norrbotten in 2023, and the increase was greater than the average for the whole country.

Guest nights increased by two percent in Norrbotten last year, compared to the year before. The average for the country is a one percent increase.

In Norrbotten, about half of the municipalities increased and half decreased. In percentage terms, Arjeplog was best, with an increase of 12 percent, followed by Boden and Gällivare where the increase was 10 percent. In the number of guest nights, Kiruna increased the most, with 50,000 more guest nights than the previous year.

"Considering the unrest in the world and the economic situation in Sweden, it is fantastic that we beat the previous record year," says Annika Fredriksson, CEO of the Swedish Lapland Visitors Board.

In Norrbotten, it is winter tourism that increases, by 9 percent (7 percent in the country). Summer tourism, on the other hand, decreases in Norrbotten, with -3 percent (the country -2 percent).

The basis for the statistics is the occupancy of all hotels, hostels, campsites, holiday villages and commercially mediated private cottages and apartments, with at least five rooms or nine beds. Smaller establishments are not covered by the statistics.

Lennart Håkansson

editor@northswedenbusiness.com