I have a question to you travellers......... I have been reading these pages for a while, and I like answering questions about Norway. But I have noticed that not many people go to Norway compared to other countries. Why is it that most people go to either Sweden or Denmark when they are visiting Scandinavia? It seem to me that Norway is last on the list when choosing between the scandinavian countries. I realize that Norway is an expensive country to visit, but it is not more expensive than the other scandinavian countries.
Take a look at these links about Norway, and see if you are convinced. Norway is one of the most beautiful countries in the world........
http://www.hurra.no/
http://www.braathens.no/
http://travel-norway.com/
http://www.fjordnorway.no/
http://home.sol.no/~naits/photo/gallery_norway/
http://okstind.monet.no/hr/no/rplan/skip.html
http://www.gonorway.no/
http://www.tourist.no/index.phtml
http://www.nsb.no/persont/
http://www.rv17.no/english.htm
http://www.touristmagazine.com/
http://www.itek.norut.no/project/olar/foto3000.html
http://www.nor-way.no/
http://www.frommers.com/destinations/oslo/
http://www.sol.no/globaltour/
http://www.norway.org/
http://travel.expo.no/
As you all have guessed I am a norwegian, but I am trying to be subjective. I have been to a lot of countries in Europe, Asia and America and I still find Norway exeptional.
Kaja
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Thank you for the posting other links for information on
Norway. I will be traveling there fall of 1999 end of
September into October and have been having trouble looking
up good info your country.
You complain about not enough interest in Norway....well
what about Finland. Although not technically a scandinavian
country it has one of the lowest rates of tourism of most
nordic nations and it has some of the most beautiful lakes,
islands and skies in the world...not to mention the
people...he he..:).
Granted...norway is beautiful...very much so...but what
about the little known wonder up in the north east of
europe....Finland!!
Antero (Finland)
I'm planning to be in Norway in a month, so I've been
watching for info on Norway quite a bit. I think I've found
as many inquiries on Norway as Sweden! I think people go to
Denmark because they feel they can fit it into a trip to
Germany/Netherlands, and don't feel as if they have time to
cross the channel. Thanks for the links!
Firstly Kaja these are just thoughts that come to mind, and
I in no way want to come over as xenephobic or ignorant so
don't necessarily take them as my firm beliefs.
1. Norway is expensive. very expensive. when you are
travelling on a budget this is a major consideration. รบ20
for a Pizza and a beer is steep by anyones standards !
Now it might well be that you can live cheaply, but if you
can its a well kept secret.
2. As Tex pointed out above, Norway is on the periphery of
Europe and as a consequence travellers trying to cram
Europe into their trip of a lifetime are going to take
Copenhagen as the easy route to clocking Scandinavia.
3. Internal travel within Norway (if you don't count
flying) is time consuming. Prospective visitors hesitating
after considering points 1 & 2 could be firmly turned off
as they delve further into time and distances involved.
4. Controversial I'm afraid this next one. Norweigan
culture has made little impression on the world (Abba were
great ambassadors for Sweden for example). Norways
influence whilst significant in technical areas such as
crude oil is non-existent in the entertainment world.
Now this should not be the measure of assessing a country,
but when Norway stands up against must other countries in
Western Europe in this department its a poor cousin.
5. The Norweigan entry to the Eurovision Song Contest is
enough to put anyone off !!
6. Lets face it there are many moronic tourists plaguing
the beautiful cities of Europe. In a sense Norway should be
pleased it doesn't have hordes of them trying to batter the
doors down to get in ! Do you really want MacDonalds on
every street corner !
Norways prime assets is its beautiful countryside and most
people interested in nature know this already which perhaps
explains partly the lack of a need to ask too many
questions.
So there you go Kaja some answers, frivolous and serious,
but remember everything is open to conjecture !.
Finally on a personal note I have been very fortunate to
have visited Norway, and spent a fantastic time in Bergen
and the surrounding area. In my heart anyway Norway is in a
dead heat with the Highlands of Scotland as the most
beautiful part of Europe (especially when the sun shines!).
I'll come back when I've won the lottery !!
You are absolutely right about the first 3 points above. As for number 4 - you are partially right. However - how many travel to Sweden because of ABBA??? The most famous artists Norway ever had was A-HA and now the vocalist of Aqua (eww), but I seriously doubt that this is what decide whether tourist choose to come here or not. As for people who know some history...Norway's still got some international names like Ibsen, Grieg, Nansen, Amundsen and even Sonia Henie or Grethe Waitz (enormously popular in the USA). Tourists do come to see these people's homes, some of which are museums today. As of late I'd say people know of Lillehammer after the olympics in 1994, and of the commitment our government has had in peace prosesses around the world. The Nobel Peace Prize also has its seat in Oslo of course. In the world of wintersports Norway DO have many stars, not only in the traditional scandinavian events, but also in alpine skiing and in skating. I assume you're from the UK mongoose, so I doubt any of these stars are household names in your country, but many other places in Europe, and in the world, they are.
-
I still think that the 3 first points are true, however I think Kaja is also partly wrong. Many young backpackers find it too expensive and too time consuming to pay Norway a visit, true, but Norway is still flooded with older tourists, many of whom are financially well off. I live in Bergen and in the summertime we have several cruiseship visits a day. Americans South-Americans and southern europeans are always on these ships. Germans and other north europeans come by car, and Japanese tourists come in hords by plane. We only miss the backpackers.
I'm a backpacker myself when I travel, and even if I would appreciate travelling more in my own country which I love, it just don't make any sense when I can get to the south european beaches for less money....
Rand
My husband and I are travelling to Norway this fall too.
Thanks so much for the links to other pages.
The reason Norway is not so much of a tourist destination
is because it is so fucking expensive. Go to Spain or
somewhere where you can get a beer without your bank
manager calling you on your mobile to OK the transaction!
Have fun!
John :-)
If you where John Carrington why would you be worried about the expense. And why don't you just stay home and drink beer if thats what you're into. I love to visit Norway, and I try to go every summer. OK! The beer is expensive, but it taste very good!
... and Japan until they stop the cruel slaughter of whales
and begin to show a degree of civilization.
Look. Get over the "cute animals" stage, willya? The reduced
hunting of seals lead to mass deaths a few years ago, due to
overpopulation. As for the whales, it is not mass slaughter,
it is very small amounts taken from populations that are not
threatened anymore. Go after people who hunt for pleasure
instead, will you? Fox hunters for one. Bullfighters for
another. At least the ones that hunt NON-threatened species
of whales actually use what they catch!
I go to Norway at least once a year on holiday and am going
again in 2 weeks time for a long weekend in Oslo.
I have a number of Norwegian friends and I have travelled
quite extensively around the country.
Coming from Manchester, I welcome the opportunity to
breathe cleaner air, see unspoilt countryside and have room
to live in. I love the people, scenery, wildlife, culture
etc..
Yes, it IS expensive, but I budget for it and I don't let
it worry me when I'm there. I think I was Norwegian in a
previous incarnation!
I am always telling people of how beautiful the country is,
but i am wary that it will become too popular as that will
spoil it. I mean, do you REALLY want hordes of tourists
wandering around the Lofoten Islands?
If anyone wants info on places to go etc, I have plenty of
web sites to tell you about.
Mail me, whenever.
Marc