March record in guest nights

The accommodation statistics registered 2.3 million guest nights in March. Norwegian guest nights at accommodation establishments declined by 30 000 compared to March the year before, while foreign ones increased by 11 000. Counties with popular ski destinations such as Oppland and Buskerud declined, while in Møre og Romsdal, Oslo and Akershus, guest nights rose significantly.

Source: Statistics Norway.

Sharp increase at hotels

During March, there were 1.9 million guest nights at Norwegian hotels, an increase of 6.2 per cent from last year. The counties Oslo, Rogaland and Akershus were the main contributors to this increase.

In terms of the purpose of accommodation, it is not surprising to see that occupational guest nights increased, while recreational guest nights declined. It was mainly Rogaland and Oslo that increased the occupational guest nights, while recreational guest nights declined the most – not surprisingly – in Oppland and Buskerud.

Camping sites declined

The guest nights at camping sites decreased by 38 per cent in March this year compared to the same month the year before. This was almost entirely due to a decrease in Norwegian guest nights. The underlying reason behind this is the timing of the Easter holiday, which was in March last year, and in April this year. Compared to 2017, when the Easter was in April, the figures are about the same.

Decrease at holiday dwellings

• 189 000 guest nights in March 2019
• 18 per cent decrease since March 2018
• Norwegian guest nights decreased by 33 per cent
• Foreign guest nights decreased by 3.7 per cent

Even more to Svalbard

• 19 000 guest nights in March 2019
• 9 per cent increase since March 2018
• Both Norwegian and foreign guest nights increased 9 per cent