Norwegian Tourist Office - setting out its stall in the UK for 2007 by Jimi St. Pierre
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The following article acknowledges the information supplied by the Norwegian Tourist Office in their February news briefing. The Norwegian Tourist Office has been busy setting up its 2007 UK promotions, which include 400 posters on the London Underground under the theme “Norway Awaits”, and the forthcoming Norwegian Travel Workshop in Kristiansand from April 23-25.
The Norwegian Travel Workshop: The NTW is a meeting place for suppliers and buyers of Norwegian Travel products. Participants are given the opportunity to negotiate, update product knowledge, and increase the number of contacts within the Norwegian tourist industry. Last year’s event attracted 700 participants equally divided between suppliers and buyers.
Norway Airline and Tour Operator News: Scottish travellers can enjoy a new airline route from Edinburgh to Oslo with low-cost carrier Norwegian. Flying three times a week, the route will start on 15th April. Flights can be booked online at www.norwegian.no.
DFDS Seaways:. DFDS Seaways launched their second edition of ‘The Holiday Collection 2007′ in January, offering many ideas for holidays in Norway.
M.S. Princess of Norway - the newest addition to the DFDS Seaways fleet, sails overnight from Newcastle to Stavanger, Haugesund and the gateway to the fjordsand Bergen. raveller simply have to drive aboard the floating hotel and relax, and enjoy the array of leisure facilities, entertainment and fine cuisine on offer. The vessel is the starting point for a range of Norway holidays including getting back to nature on an activity holiday with prices from only £139 per person, or an idyllic cottage hideaway, or the magical Hurtigruten voyage, cruising along the spectacular coastline.
DFDS also have a choice of short breaks including city breaks in all ports of call, plus the activity hub of Voss.
Scantours: Scantours’ new catalogue ‘Summer Adventures’ has just been published and features some 25 tours to Norway’s fjord region and the north, including some new tours for this year. The tour emphasis in every case is on scenic or activity adventures with stay lengths from 4 to 14 days. Copies can be ordered via the Scantours web site www.scantours.co.uk
New for this year is an arrangement in Spitsbergen with several optional excursions; a seven-day excursion around the North Cape to see the Midnight Sun and new ‘Drive and Discover’ self drive tours. The perennially popular ‘Across the Roof of Norway’ tour also now has a mountain stay extension in Gol, as well as Voss and Balestrand on the Sognefjord. For people looking for escorted arrangements the catalogue has several options including extending their tour elsewhere in Scandinavia.
Skiing News: It was at Telemark in Norway that Sondre Norheim originated the modern sport of skiing. With his daring skiing competitions, ski jumps and Telemark swings in Morgedal valley.
Mount Gausta dominates the area and is also Telemark’s highest mountain at 1.883 metres above sea level. Here, in the southern part of the Hardanger highlands, is Telemark’s most beautiful high mountain terrain and miles of ski tracks.
Other activities are available in the area including horse-drawn sleigh rides, ice climbing and ice fishing. For more information about Telemark, go to www.visittelemark.com
Hemsedal Ski Center: Hemsedal Ski Center celebrated its 45th Anniversary at the end of last year. The ski centre opened on December 9th 1961 and was an extremely important day for everyone in Hemsedal. To celebrate the opening, all the schoolchildren got the afternoon off so that they could use the new lift free of charge and ski as much as their hearts desired.
Despite bad snow conditions across Europe, Norway’s ski resorts have been blessed with good powder on the slopes. Trysil has been no exception. Norway’s largest ski resort, lies in the east by the Swedish border. The first lifts opened here on 4th November and have remained so throughout the past three months.
Trysil: Trysil is perfect for families and those more experienced skiers as there are runs to sort all abilities. With a great range of accommodation and fantastic après-ski, it really is a must for any ski enthusiast.
Norway offers a long season with snow virtually guaranteed from November to May. Only two hours away by plane from the UK, most resorts can be reached from either the capital Oslo or Bergen in the west. Un-crowded slopes and short lift queues also add to its appeal. Trysil is just two-and-a-half hours from Oslo. For more information about Trysil, visit www.trysil.com.
Coastal Sailing: Hurtigruten, the new name for Norwegian Coastal Voyage, has launched a range of Spring offers running from March and May 2007 with prices starting from just £695 per person for a seven day trip between. These trips are ideal for those looking for a holiday away from the school holiday period and with stunning scenery to enjoy.
Springtime is a time when warmth returns to the shores of Norway and the sunshine rejuvenates life along the coast. Snow can still be seen around the North Cape area as winter struggles to maintain its grip on the arctic regions. For agents, the offers also tie in with departures over the Easter period and Norwegian National Day on 17 May.
Offers are available on the Voyage to the North, Voyage to the South and full Classic Round Voyage. A six night voyage from Bergen in the south to Kirkenes in the North cost from £695 per person on a half board basis. Flights can be added from £190 per person from Stansted or £250 per person from a range of regional airports across the UK.
Furthermore, Hurtigruten is to sell MS Narvik - one of its mid-generation ships which was built in 1982. The move comes as the cruise line invests in quality and adjusts its fleet for the arrival of MS Fram, its newest ship which comes into service in April 2007. For more information go to www.hurtigruten.co.uk
Easy to reach at low cost, with a choice of low cost air travel or more leisurely sea routes with comfort and style, Norway continues to offer an alternative to the crowded beaches and the more well-trodden sightseeing honeypots of Europe. Spectacular scenery, pure air and healthy living are the watchword for any successful, stress- reducing holiday, and Norway has it all.
About the Author
Jimi St. Pierre writes for several Travel Companies and Office Equipment suppliers and in the UK, including Officemagic, BCP Ltd and Country Connect , the latter being a publisher of a daily news feed to the UK travel industry via the ntl:telewest Traveleye extranet.
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