Covid outbreak hit the accommodation establishments hard

Norwegian authorities introduced measures to prevent the spread of the corona virus on March 12. At the same time, the global travel restrictions introduced had significant consequences for commercial accommodation establishments in Norway. Figures from the Accommodation statistics show there were approximately one million guest nights in March, a decrease of 1.2 million compared to March 2019.

In a fifteen-year perspective, there have never been fewer registered guest nights. During the financial crisis in 2008 and 2009, one could see somewhat fewer guest nights, but not in the proximity of the downturn that is now under the corona pandemic

The number of guest nights declined in all counties. The greatest decline was in Oslo and on Svalbard; the number of guest nights was reduced by 65 and 64 per cent respectively. Vestfold and Telemark had the least reduction with 42 per cent fewer guest nights.

The largest decline at hotels in Oslo

There was a 57 percent decrease in guest nights at hotels in March compared with the previous year. Especially guest nights associated with holiday or recreation declined. The greatest decline was seen in Oslo and Viken.  

Camping sites, holiday dwellings, and youth hostels also had significantly fewer guest nights. Holiday dwellings and youth hostels decreased by 44 per cent and camping sites decreased 41 per cent.