Foreign tourists a major source of income
[2008-07-15 09:54]
During the first half, the export value of the Swedish hospitality industry was SEK 42 billion. This was an increase of 17 per cent compared to the year-earlier period. The full-year forecast for 2008 is nearly a hundred billion kronor, according to the Arlanda Visitor Index.
"Foreign visitors to Sweden generate SEK 7,000 per day per person. For every hundred kronor a foreign tourist spends in Sweden, 45 kronor goes back to the government," says Eva Hedenström, CEO of Föreningen Turism i Sverige (FörTur), an organisation representing hundreds of companies in the Swedish tourist trade.
"The demand for international air travel is strong. Long-haul travel in particular is increasing. This summer, Stockholm-Arlanda Airport can offer a record number of non-stop air connections from both the US and China," says Niclas Härenstam, Manager Press Relations, Stockholm-Arlanda Airport.
Today the hospitality industry is one of the fastest growing sectors in the Swedish economy. Last year its export value was SEK 87.6 billion, and according to the Swedish Agency for Economic and Regional Growth (Nutek) it was thus larger than exports of both iron and steel (SEK 77.3 billion) and passenger cars (SEK 69.7 billion). The hospitality industry accounts for more than 36 per cent of total sales in the Swedish economy.
The Arlanda Index is a forecasting tool based on the number of non-Nordic passengers arriving at Stockholm-Arlanda Airport. The index provides a forecast of the number of guest nights, the number of employees in the hospitality industry and its export value. The export value of the hospitality industry is the sum that foreign visitors spend during their visit to Sweden.
For more information:
Eva Hedenström, CEO, FörTur, mobile 0707-96 65 59
Niclas Härenstam, Manager Press relations, LFV Arlanda, 0708-91 64 01