20
CRUICE NORTH 2015
Photo: Kjell Ove Storvik
presenting new ways of thinking about
shorex and we have also become more
conscious of being innovative. Providers
who don’t renew themselves risk being
left behind. It’s important that the
cruise lines and agents offer these new
shorexes on board so that we get sales.
Perhaps this is the biggest challenge we
face.”
At the start of the 2015 season we
are experiencing a dramatic fall in oil
prices, which may only be short-lived.
The Norwegian Krone (NOK) has also
weakened against the Euro and Dollar.
This must have a positive effect on
the traffic to the “high-cost country”
Norway, while the fuel argument is also
weakened slightly in relation to long
sailing distances.
“Generally speaking, this is good news
for the Norwegian travel industry, for the
cruise lines and not least for the cruise
passenger. Norway has traditionally been
considered a high-cost country, but if we
gaze to competing countries it’s fair to
say that these differences have evened
out significantly in recent times.”
In 2014 Northern Norway and
Spitsbergen (Svalbard) managed for the
first time to take market share in Norway.
The northern cruise region increased
traffic by 6%, while Norway as a whole
experienced a decline of 10%. How would
you explain these numbers, and what can
be done to sustain this growth?
“What we are seeing is possibly a levelling
out of the traffic in parts of Southern
We are blessed with some natural phenomena that no
one can match – the Northern Lights and the Midnight
Sun. Most of the region is sparsely populated, and our
region is one of the few on earth where it’s still possible to
experience “nothing”. There are not too many places left
where urbanites can experience that.
Norway. The growth in the south has been
strong in recent years, while our region
has experienced steady growth. Northern
Norway has experienced great success
with winter cruise and this is clearly
reflected in the statistics. In addition,
Northern Norway has a number of unique
qualities that you won’t find elsewhere in
the world...”
What are such unique selling points for
Northern Norway & Spitsbergen?
Norway is marketed under the slogan
“Powered by Nature” and the further
north you travel the more you experience
this. The entire region offers a wide
variety of opportunities for physical
activity to challenge all your senses.”
For many, it comes as a real surprise
to discover how mild the climate is
considering how far north it is. The Gulf
Stream gives us ice-free ports and really
quite pleasant temperatures when we
compare ourselves with other destina-
tions at the same latitude.
“Yes that’s true and we are also blessed
with some natural phenomena that no
one can match – the Northern Lights
and the midnight sun. In addition, the
region is also far more inhabited than
many people imagine. Most of the region
is sparsely populated, and our region is one
of the few on earth where it’s still possible
