May was a good month for The numbers refer to hotels, short-term holiday dwellings, camping sites, and youth hostels.New figures from the accommodation statistics show that there were 3.1 million Notice the difference between “guest nights” and “guest”. One guest may have several guest nights at hotels, camping sites, holiday dwellings and youth hostels. This represent an increase of 192 000 guest nights compared to May of the previous year.

The number of guest nights increased for all types of accommodation establishments. Hotels recorded a 6.5 per cent increase in guest nights. At campsites, the number of guest nights increased by 8.5 per cent, while All types of establishments with a rental unit (apartments, huts etc.) with self-catering and limited service. Stays are short-term. increased by 2.4 per cent.

–  The weather in May this year was exceptionally good. This, combined with multiple public holidays, may have led to more people choosing to stay at hotels, campsites, holiday dwellings and youth hostels, says advisor Boyd Oyier at Statistics Norway.

Figure 1. Guest nights at hotels, camping sites, holiday dwellings and youth hostels. May 2016 - 2024

Increase in guest nights at a majority of counties

In most counties, there were more guest nights in May this year compared to the same month last year. Oslo and Vestland reported the highest number of guest nights, each surpassing half a million guest nights in May. Nordland and Møre and Romsdal reported the highest percentage increase, both reporting an increase of 22 per cent.

Agder, Vestfold and Buskerud reported a decrease of 7.1, 13 and 2.4 per cent.

There is increased uncertainty related to the distinction between Norwegian and foreign guest nights and the distinction of foreign guest nights by country of residence. The reason is that several providers of data have had challenges in connection with the transition to a new booking system.

In accordance with definitions from Eurostat, refugees should be excluded from tourism statistics and not be considered as guests in the context of tourism statistics when they stay at a tourist accommodation establishment. Refugees from Ukraine cannot be assigned by purpose as holiday, occupation or course, conference. Establishments that are exclusively hosting refugees are not included in the statistics.