More American tourists are coming to Norway. Bergen’s director of tourism, Anders Nieland, believes the heat wave affecting southern Europe is to blame.
– Americans learned on the news that southern Europe is characterized by a heat wave and wildfires, and they don’t want to know.
They still want to visit Europe, and then head north, towards Norway.
– We are seeing increased interest from US tour operators who want to send guests here, Nyland.
Most tourists are not bothered by rainy weather.
– The tourists who come here are not on vacation in the sun, so it’s okay if it rains a little. They read in the countryside, and are prepared for the fact that it can get wet here.
Visit Bergen’s director of tourism, Anders Nyland, has noticed a growing interest in visiting Norway from Americans.
Photo: Malin Askevold Helle/NRK
Concerned about climate change
Marjorie and James Hilliard are married from Chicago, Illinois On vacation in Bergen.
– In the 19th century, my family emigrated from Norway to the USA, so I wanted to come here to see where they came from, to see the fjords, says Marjorie.
“I’ve heard a lot of good things about the country, and I’ve enjoyed my time here so far,” says James.
The weather didn’t bother Marjorie and James Hilliard, who wore several layers of clothing.
Photo: Malin Askevold Helle/NRK
The couple think it’s scary to be able to see climate change in the form of a heat wave in southern Europe.
Climate change is a major concern all over the world, and it’s scary. Marjorie says it’s good to come to places like Norway where it’s cooler, and adds:
– It’s good to be here, and we appreciate that we can travel without the weather stopping us.
– We would have been disappointed if it hadn’t rained
The rain did not put an end to the vacation of the Americans, on the contrary.
– We would have been disappointed if it hadn’t rained, says Randy Breedlove from North Carolina, USA.
Breedlove traveled to Norway with his wife, Jill Joyner, who has grandparents from Bergen.
– We knew it would rain and wet, so we came prepared, and that’s not a problem, Joyner says, and adds:
– In North Carolina, it’s hot and humid, so that’s cool!
For Randy Breedlove and Jill Joyner, the rainy weather in Bergen is a nice contrast to the heat at home in North Carolina.
Photo: Therese G. Pisani/NRK
Breedlove can confirm that they have heard a lot about the heatwave in southern Europe in the news in the US.
– We heard a lot about the temperature before we left, especially in Italy. So we were glad we came to Norway.
The couple are on a guided bike tour of Bergen, led by Knut Arbach, managing director of Norway Active. He also noticed that tourists come to the north because of the weather
– I think people come here because the Norwegian krone is weak, and because of the weather, he says.
Knut Aarbake is the general manager of Norway Active, here is a guide for tourists on bike tours.
Photo: Therese G. Pisani/NRK
trend will continue
The cool summer didn’t scare the tourists away this year, and there are many indications that this trend will continue.
Our contacts in the US report very strong interest in Norway in 2024 and 2025, says Niland.
So we can expect to see more Americans in this country in the coming years.
– The feedback we get from USA is that Norway and Nordic countries are trending in their markets.
There are many tourists to see in Bryggen in Bergen on this gray July day.
Photo: Malin Askevold Helle/NRK
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