– Norwegians are addicted. We want to go to the same places at the same times we have done before. Spain, Turkey and Greece are among the holiday winners this year as well, says commercial director of Finn Reise, Terje Berge.
But one thing has changed when it comes to Norwegians’ travel habits, and it can have major consequences for the wallet, says Berge.
– Norwegians seem to be a bit indecisive. Many people wait to book the holiday trip until close to the departure date. It is a bad idea if you want to get the trip as cheaply as possible.
– WAITING: An increasing number of Norwegians are waiting to book the holiday trip until departure is approaching, says commercial director of Finn Reise, Terje Berje. Photo: TV 2
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Can get a big surprise
Berge says that he has no doubt that prices will increase closer to the summer, and that it is more expensive to go on a trip now than before the pandemic.
– There are generally fewer planes in the air, and several of the travel companies do not have as much capacity as before. At the same time, demand is about as great as in 2019.
– This, in addition to Norwegians waiting a long time to order, is helping to push prices up to a level that is higher than before the pandemic, Berge says.
Warns against travel trend before the summer
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It is just over two months until July, when the joint holiday starts for many. If you have plans to take a trip, but have not yet decided, you can get a big surprise, according to Berge.
– It will be more expensive in the future, as we also expect demand to increase further. If, on the other hand, you are very flexible and have a small travel companion, you can make many good bargains on remaining seats, Berge adds.
Offers fewer package tours
The travel companies can confirm that they offer fewer package holidays now than in 2019.
– We do not have as many departures for the simple reason that we would rather increase if the demand should be greater than the opposite, and that is due to the pandemic, says communications manager at TUI, Nora Aspengren.
Aspengren says that demand is constantly increasing, but that it is not at the same level as in 2019.
Now Norwegians want to travel: – They rise above the keyboard
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– Demand is increasing week by week, but we are not at the same level as before the pandemic yet. What we see, however, is that Norwegians book very close to the departure date, and it will affect prices if there should be an increased pressure towards the summer holidays.
Aspengren adds that prices vary day by day, and that it is difficult to say anything in general about how the price level will look closer to the summer.
– VERY AVAILABLE: TUI’s head of communications, Nora Aspengren, says that even though demand is increasing, there are still many vacant package holidays this summer. Photo: Tui Norway
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Despite the fact that demand is constantly increasing, TUI has many vacant package holidays this summer, says Aspengren.
– We have quite a few thousand places available this summer, so it should not be a problem to find what you want, she says.
– I also hope the demand increases so much that we can offer more trips towards the summer.
May be sold out
The travel company Ving also confirms that the number of flights for the summer season 2022 is still somewhat lower than in 2019.
– PANDEMY: Mari-Anne Zachrisson, head of Ving Norway, says that Ving had 16 months without flights during the pandemic. Photo: Ving
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– Now it still looks like it will be a good summer, and we will soon be back at the levels we had in 2019, says Mari-Anne Zachrisson, head of Ving Norway.
She says that if you have a favorite hotel or a requirement to travel on a special date during the school’s summer holidays, you may find that it is already sold out.
– But despite the fact that more than half of the summer holidays have already been sold, there are many opportunities left to find the dream holiday to the Mediterranean or the Canary Islands, says Zachrisson.
Ving also states that prices reflect demand.
– If there is a great demand for holidays abroad, it can pay to be out early before the price increases, says Zachrisson.
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