Maria Broman, CEO of Visit Skellefteå
This is reported by Maria Broman, CEO of Visit Skellefteå.
What is the tourist situation in Skellefteå right now?
– We’ve had a June with amazing weather and solid guest numbers at the restaurants. I checked in with the hotels last week and the gut feeling is good for the summer but it’s very difficult to forecast. That is because we see a very clear trend now after the pandemic that people make reservations late. There may be 30–40 rooms being booked the same day or just the day before.
Visit Skellefteå are hoping for many visitors from Finland and Norway this year too.
– The exchange rate means that it is very beneficial for them to come here on holiday.
A new group of tourists are on the rise in Skellefteå.
– We’ve seen an increase in international visitors which we hope will prevail. Skellefteå is also becoming more of a year-round destination. Previously we were very dependent on the summer but in the last few years we see that we have a more even influx of people throughout the year.
Will the local restaurant owners have a more difficult summer than normal?
– Among those I’ve talked to the gut feeling is good for the summer. Even if the Swedes generally have more of a tight grip of their wallets it seems like they indulge themselves when they do go out.
Does it seem like as many Norwegians will come to Skellefteå this year?
– It’s a bit too early to say, 90 per cent of all Norwegians who are here in summer come in the month of July.