How to sell Scandinavia
For customers seeking fresh air, outstanding scenery and clean living, look no further than Scandinavia, says Gemma Greenwood.
Europe is a well-explored continent, particularly in the west and the south and along the Mediterranean coastline, however, the northern-most part, namely Scandinavia, is a hidden treasure just waiting to be explored by the ever more adventurous Middle East traveller.
This area of Europe, comprising Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden and Iceland, boasts the same attributes as destinations that are already immensely popular with the Middle East market.
The mountains, lakes, fresh air and temperate weather — all key factors driving tourists to Switzerland and Austria each summer — can be found in Scandinavia, often on a grander scale.
Norwegian citizen Sonia Rashid established Scandinavian Connections in Dubai more than a year ago in a bid to educate the travel trade about this unexplored pristine territory.
She started out by representing Hurtigruten in the region and is now taking on more clients such as Sweden-based DMC GoNordic, The Ice Hotel in northern Sweden, the Norwegian train experience ‘Norway in a Nutshell’ and much more.
“I want travel agents to know that Scandinavia is a destination that will really generate high revenue because of all the activities and options it has to offer,” says Rashid. “A trip to Scandinavia is a chance to experience something genuine — away from the malls and the concrete. It’s a back-to-nature experience that is fun, relaxing and educational.
“Scandinavia is also a very safe region and a family-friendly destination, plus it’s just a one- or two-hour flight from most major European airports.”
Here, ATN, with some help from Scandinavian Connections, has compiled some must-know information about Scandinavia, customer feedback, as well as highlights and package/itinerary ideas.
SAMPLE ITINERARY
Company: Al Rostamani Travel.
Tour: The Magic of Scandinavia.
Duration: 10 days, nine nights.
Client : most suited to groups.
Outline: The itinerary includes all three Scandinavian capitals, the fjords of Norway, travel by first class coach and a professional tour escort.
Prices: lead in at AED 6570 per person including breakfast and dinner. Flights not included.
Contact: call +971 4 295 6777 or visit www.alrostamanitravel.com
Day 1: Copenhagen
Day 2: Copenhagen city tour including visits to The Little Mermaid, Nyhavn with its restaurants and small boats and the City Hall Square. Afternoon free to visit Tivoli Amusement park.
Day 3: Copenhagen-Oslo: early departure by coach to North Sealand and the town of Helsingoer, famous for the Kronborg Castle where Hamlet was set. Here, catch a ferry over to Helsingborg in Sweden and continue along the Swedish West Coast. Arrive in Oslo.
Day 4: Oslo: city tour including a walk around the Frogner Park, decorated with sculptures by Gustaf Vigeland. Afternoon at leisure.
Day 5: Oslo-Bergen: explore the forests and rivers of Norway through to Geilo, then cross the Mountain plateau of Hardanger and on the descent towards the fjord, pass the famous Vöringsfossen waterfall. Cross the Hardangerfjord by ferry to Bergen —Norway’s second largest city surrounded by seven mountains.
Day 6: Bergen: visit the city of the old Hansa and the Bryggen area.
Day 7: Sognefjord: a two-hour cruise of Sognefjord, Norway’s largest fjord.
Day 8: Geilo-Karlstad: travel through the Valdres area through to the county of Värmland in Sweden. Drive through areas of typical Scandinavian scenery and countryside.
Day 9: Karlstad-Stockholm: travel across forests, lakes and fields to the city of Stockholm.
Day 10: depart.
Norway in a nutshell
For clients wishing to explore Norway efficiently, without missing out on the highlights and the scenery, suggest Rail Europe’s ‘Norway in a Nutshell’ rail experience.
There are five itineraries from which to choose, which combine travel on train (on the Flam and Bergen line), ferry (a fjord cruise) and bus (up the Stalheimskleiva Road).
The tours are operated all-year-round and stopovers are recommended. Groups of more than 10 people must reserve seats in advance. Children under three travel for free when sharing an adult’s seat.
Children aged four to 15 are charged a half adult fare.
Routes: Bergen to Bergen (roundtrip); Voss to Voss (roundtrip); Oslo-Voss-Bergen; Oslo Voss Bergen; and Oslo-Voss-Bergen-Oslo (roundtrip). Fares: range from 78 Euros for adults and 41 Euros for children (Voss-Voss itinerary) to 257 Euros and 130 Euros respectively (Oslo-Voss-Bergen-Oslo).
Cruise around Norway
For your top-end clients, experienced cruisers, and adventurous travellers who would appreciate a unique ‘at sea’ experience, suggest Hurtigruten — a Norwegian company established more than 100 years ago that specialises in cruises in Scandinavia, Greenland and Antarctica. The Hurtigruten fleet comprises 13 ships with 11 operating along the coast of Norway all year round.
Every day of the year, the Hurtigruten journey begins in Bergen, Norway, and travels north across the Arctic Circle to Kirkenes — an outpost near the Russian border.
Passengers stop at 34 ports in total ranging from remote fishing villages to bustling cities and itineraries are flexible including five-, six- or 11-day trips.
Hurtigruten’s UAE representative, Sonia Rashid, the executive director of Scandinavian Connections, says the Norwegian Coastal Voyage really brings Norway to life as passengers are exposed to a multitude of new sights and experiences including dramatic scenery and a very large breath of fresh air.
A cruise on Hurtigruten, she says, is suitable for “experienced travellers” who seek “an experience like no other”, taking in “one of the most dramatic coastlines in the world”.
“It’s for those seeking a journey with nature and blissful relaxation as well as families seeking quality time together,” she says. “This is a voyage of a lifetime and the perfect way to get to know Norway intensely.”
Unlike conventional cruise ships, there is no big entertainment programme on board — a deliberate measure to ensure guests enjoy the “fascinating nature” characterised by mountains, islands, fjords, waterfalls, small villages and much more.
Contact: Sonia Rashid on +971 50 1593 263 Dubai or visit www.hurtigruten.ae
What the client said
Emirati Jinan Fari told ATN that her recent trip to Scandinavia with her nephew was “just incredible”. She said many Arab Nationals were bored of travelling to the same old places each year and that many, like her, wanted to explore new places, particularly in Europe.
Ms Faris and her nephew flew from Dubai with KLM via Amsterdam to Stockholm. From here they explored Sweden, Norway and Finland. The highlight of their trip, Ms Faris told ATN, was the six-night Norwegian coastline cruise with Hurtigruten where the scenery, she said was “out of this world”.
“You cannot believe what you are seeing — it’s incredible,” she said. “There is so much green, so many waterfalls and just breathtaking scenery.”
Ms Faris said Norway was “more beautiful” than Switzerland and Austria. “The waterfalls are what surprised us the most,” she added.
A country breakdown
DENMARK: No matter where you are in Denmark you are never more than 30 miles from the sea. The country boasts more than 400 islands, cosmopolitan cities such as Copenhagen, classic and cutting-edge design and architecture, as well as quaint off-the-beaten-track and fairytale villages.
FINLAND: The majority of Finland’s landscape is lakes and forests. Each region has its own distinct character, from the wilds of Lapland in the north, the lakes of the east to the archipelagos of the south west. Most Finns live in the country’s many cosmopolitan cities such as Helsinki, where music, art, technology, fine food and cutting-edge design is the emphasis.
NORWAY: is a country full of wide open spaces and breathtaking landscape, from tall mountains that plunge into the sea, fjords and waterfalls, to glaciers and the northern lights. In the summer, jump on a midnight sun cruise, join a safari or play golf in the middle of the night. There’s also a chance to meet the Sami people — Norway’s original population dating back to 11,000 years ago.
SWEDEN: Fresh air, wide open spaces and wilderness, all near city centres such as Stockholm and Gothenburg are what attracts tourists to Sweden. One can shop, dine and sightsee today and go hiking or fishing tomorrow. Clients can alsotour the forests and lakes, explore the coastline or pursue active adventure in Lapland.
Key facts
Location: Northern Europe — to the north of Germany, to the east of the UK, to the south of the Arctic and to the west of Russia.
Number of countries: Five — Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden are all located in Northern Europe and Iceland is located in the Atlantic Ocean, almost equidistant from the UK and the US.
Getting there: SAS flies from Dubai to Copenhagen three times weekly during the winter season and offers quick connection times to most major Scandinavian cities.
Getting around: SAS offers good connections across Scandinavia and into Europe.
Useful links
UAE contact: www.scan-connect.com or www.hurtigruten.ae
Scandinavian Tourist Board (STB): www.goscandinavia.com
Visit Denmark: www.visitdenmark.com
Visit Finland: www.visitfinland.com
Visit Norway: www.visitnorway.com
Visit Sweden: www.visitsweden.com