“We will have huge problems this winter season”

The number of foreign overnight stays in Northern Norway in September 2025 has increased by 13 percent in comparison with last year, NHO Reiseliv, Norway's largest community of 3,800 leaders in catering, accommodation, and tourism, reported on Thursday. 

The biggest growth, at 16 percent, was registered in Troms county, home to the Arctic capital of Tromsø. Nordland, home to the Lofoten Islands - one of the major Arctic landmarks - experienced growth of 15 percent.

Meanwhile, there was a 2 percent decrease in tourism in Finnmark in September. Some experts that the Barents Observer spoke to are concerned about this region, which is also home to the Norwegian Arctic town of Kirkenes.

Monika Raab, General Manager of “Booking Kirkenes” - a souvenir shop and a tour operator on the main street in Kirkenes, is not optimistic about the upcoming winter season - the crucial season for Arctic tourism. 

Raab anticipates that the cancellation of evening direct flights from Oslo to Kirkenes by Scandinavian Airlines in October this year will be a significant blow to the local tourism industry.

“The 9 o'clock flight is too early. That means anyone who wants to visit Kirkenes from another European city would have to stay overnight in Oslo,” Raab told the Barents Observer. “We are very poorly connected at the moment. We will have fewer tourists and smaller groups. We will have huge problems with that.”

As Raab explains, Tromsø and Kirkenes generally offer similar products, such as northern lights tours and husky rides. However, Kirkenes' unique offerings include king crab safaris and tours to the Russian border, which is just a 20-minute drive away.

But Tromsø has one advantage - the city is getting more and more direct flights from all over Europe. This makes Kirkenes fall behind as its accessibility is deteriorating.

"The change in flight offerings can have quite a big impact on us," - Per H. Johansen, Kirkenes Snow Hotel marketing manager, told the Barents Observer via email. "Most people have limited holidays, and we believe that some travellers are choosing other destinations in Northern Norway or Finland instead. Kirkenes is a unique destination, but we are completely dependent on good connections to realize its potential."

"We don't think we'll see an increase in the number of tourists this winter in Kirkenes, - Monika Raab told the Barents Observer. - It's difficult to attract guests without those flights. Many people in the industry are unhappy. Some groups are cancelling their trips now because it's too complicated to come here. On top of that, we also have the issue of not having enough hotel rooms”.

"We must strengthen accessibility, and more accommodation capacity is incredibly important," - Per H. Johansen from the Snow Hotel emphasized. 

According to the latest statistics from NHO Reiseliv, the number of nights in hotels spent by foreign guests in Northern Norway increased by 10 per cent this September compared to 2024.

So there should be potential for the Kirkenes region to increase its tourism. 

But while new hotel facilities continue to open in Tromsø, as for example, The Dock 69°39°, which the Barents Observer reported on, Kirkenes hasn't had a new hotel in decades. 

Meanwhile, the tourism industry plays a very important role in the region.

“The whole infrastructure is built around tourism,” Raab tells the Barents Observer from behind her counter. “If you send all the tourists home, we'll only have half the flight connections for locals,” she said. 

“Tourism brings in a huge amount of money. It's an important business,” she added, noting that around 400 people in Kirkenes, a town of 4,000, are currently employed in tourism.