Record number of tourists to Lofoten
The number of tourists to the Lofoten Archipelago in Northern Norway is rising. In spite of the financial crisis Russians and Europeans are streaming to the islands.
A status as world heritage site could probably increase the number of visitors with 50 percent.
The regional promotional body Destination Lofoten estimates that hotels in Lofoten will have had 380 000 bookings by the end of the year. This is five percent more than last year and a record for the fourth year in a row, NRK.no reports.
The Lofoten Archipelago was rated number one in BarentsObserver’s ranking over Top 10 Barents vacation destinations this summer.
While the number of Norwegians visiting Lofoten has declined this summer, more and more tourists from Russia and Southern Europe are streaming to the archipelago.
If Lofoten is acknowledged as a world heritage site, employment within tourism could go up 50 percent, believes associate professor at the Bodø University College Allan Sande. – Places that get status as world heritage sites normally have a 50 increase in both employment and numbers of visitors after five-ten years, he says to Aftenposten.no.
The Norwegian oil industry is currently pushing hard for the opening of the Lofoten waters to exploration. The 2006 management plan for the area bans all drilling. A new plan will be made public early 2011.
Read also: Controversial drilling near Lofoten
