ABSTRACT
This chapter outlines the major features of demand for international and domestic tourism in Scandinavia. Scandinavia has a degree of political and cultural unity and was historically distinct from the rest of Europe, but the differences between the component countries of the region, for example in landscapes, are as important as the similarities. The most important of Scandinavia’s tourism resources are the uncrowded, unpolluted countryside and coastlines, the spectacular scenery of the mountains, the lakes and fjords where the physical legacy of the last Ice Age is still evident. Although the region has good air transport links with other parts of the world, the majority of international tourists arrive by car, using the ferry services that are available; inter-city transport services by rail, road and sea in this region are good and set to improve. Travel within the region has been facilitated by the abolition of passport controls. The nature of Scandinavian economies and society, and their significance for tourism demand, is discussed in this chapter. The social and economic development that took place in the twentieth century has enabled Scandinavians to have one of the world’s highest propensities for travel, such that the volume of outbound over inbound tourism has left Scandinavian countries with large deficits on their travel accounts. Scandinavia’s climate itself is a push factor for residents, but regarding domestic tourism, most city dwellers have rural roots and a love of nature and the outdoor life. Accommodation capacity in the short summer season is dominated by the self-catering sector, as serviced accommodation is in short supply.
