Norwegians flee relentless rain for southern Europe’s sunnier shores
Norwegian citizens are escaping to sunnier climes as they tire of the seemingly endless rain. Susana Aranda Tello de Meneses Bødtker and her son Joakim are among the many Norwegians heading south from Gardermoen, with plans to go to Malaga. According to them, the break from the cold and wet weather will be a welcome change.
News from the Meteorological Institute is not promising for those hoping for sun and warmth in the coming weeks. According to the duty meteorologist Per Egil Haga, the fluctuating weather is likely to continue throughout July for the southern part of the country. There will be a relatively cool weather type with bouts of rain and showers, and some brief breaks in between.
Even though high temperatures are predicted in southern Europe, it is preferable to the summer weather back home. Joakim advises staying hydrated and seeking shade if one starts to feel tired. Susana, being Spanish, feels she can handle the heat and is looking forward to it.
The most popular travel destinations for Norwegians at the moment are naturally countries in southern Europe. Greece stands out as the big winner this summer, with 8 out of 10 people traveling with Apollo heading to a Greek city or island. Croatia, Cyprus, Bulgaria, and Albania are also popular holiday countries. The most booked travel destinations with TUI are Crete and Rhodes in Greece, Cyprus, Mallorca, and Turkey. Destinations such as Spain, Italy, and Croatia are the most popular travel destinations with SAS from Norway, according to the airline.
Both airlines and travel companies are noticing the poor weather forecasts through increased demand from travel-hungry Norwegians. The general demand is sky-high, with available departures being fully booked. Sales are 25% higher compared to the same time last year for Apollo. Norwegian has seen a 30% increase in bookings to sun and beach destinations between week 26 and week 27. SAS has also noted an increased number of searches for travel from Norway to destinations in southern Europe.