Tourism in Norway
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The main tourist attractions of Norway are the fjord-indented coastline and its mountains, the unspoiled nature of the inner parts of the country, and the cities and smaller towns.
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[edit] Attractions
The main attraction of Norway are the varied landscapes that extend across the Arctic Circle. It is famous for its fjord-indented coastline and its mountains, ski resorts, lakes and woods. The main tourist cities in Norway are Oslo, Bergen, Stavanger, Trondheim and Tromsø. Much of the nature of Norway remains unspoiled, and thus attract numerous hikers and skiers. The fjords, mountains and waterfalls in Western and North Norway attract several hundred thousand foreign tourists each year. In the cities, cultural idiosyncrasies such as the Holmenkollen ski jump attract many visitors, as well as historic and cultural buildings and areas such as Bryggen in Bergen and the Vigeland Sculpture Park in Oslo.
The culture of Norway evolved as a result of its sparse population, harsh climate, and relative isolation from the rest of Europe. It is therefore distinct from other countries in Europe in that it has fewer opulent palaces and castles, smaller agricultural areas, and longer travel distances. Regionally distinct architecture, crafts, and art are presented in the various folk museums, typically based on an ethnological perspective. Norsk Folkemuseum at Bygdøy in Oslo is the largest of these.
[edit] Transport
The Norwegian highway system covers more than 90,000 kilometres, of which about 67,000 are paved. The highway system includes ferry transit across waterways, numerous bridges and tunnels, and several mountain passes. Some of these mountain passes are closed during the winter months, and some may close during winter storms. With the opening of the Oresund Bridge and the Great Belt Fixed Link, Norway is connected to the European continent by a continuous highway connection through Sweden and Denmark.
The 4,058 kilometres long rail network connects most of the major cities south of Bodø. The Norwegian rail network is also connected to the Swedish network. Oslo Airport, Gardermoen is the most important airport in Norway, with 19 million passengers in 2007. Most cities and towns have nearby airports, and some of the largest also have international flights. The cruise ferry Hurtigruten connects the cities on the coast between Bergen and Kirkenes. In the summer, the coastal cities are visited by numerous foreign cruise ships, Bergen being the main cruise port.
[edit] International rankings
As of 2008, Norway ranks 17 World Economic Forum's Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Report.[1]
[edit] Most visited tourist attractions
Innovation Norway, a state-owned promotion company also being in charge of tourism affairs, makes annual reports of the country's most visited tourist attractions, both cultural and natural. The 2006 report lists 50 cultural and 20 natural attractions. The top ten of each category are listed below.[2]
| Rank | Cultural Attraction | Location | Visitors, 2006 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Holmenkollen Ski Jump and Ski Museum | Oslo | 686 857 |
| 2 | World Heritage Site Bryggen | Bergen | 583 510 |
| 3 | Kristiansand Zoo and Amusement Park | Kristiansand | 532 044 |
| 4 | Amusement park TusenFryd | Ås/Oslo | 501 235 |
| 5 | Railroad Flåmsbanen | Flåm | 457 545 |
| 6 | Hadeland Glassverk | Jevnaker | 431 400 |
| 7 | Local rail Fløibanen | Bergen | 422 297 |
| 8 | Fredrikstad Fortress, Old Town of Fredrikstad | Fredrikstad | 372 360 |
| 9 | Viking Ship Museum | Oslo | 314 560 |
| 10 | Amusement park Hunderfossen Familiepark | Øyer/Lillehammer | 270 500 |
| Rank | Natural Attraction | Location | Visitors, 2006 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vøringsfossen waterfall | Eidfjord | 655 000 |
| 2 | Scenic road Trollstigen | Åndalsnes | 563 331 |
| 3 | Kjosfossen waterfall | Flåm | 457 400 |
| 4 | World Heritage Site Geirangerfjorden | Geiranger | 423 643 |
| 5 | Låtefossen waterfall | Odda/Hardanger | 420 000 |
| 6 | Steinsdalsfossen waterfall | Norheimsund/Hardanger | 300 000 |
| 7 | World Heritage Site Nærøyfjorden | Aurland | 297 038 |
| 8 | Briksdalsbreen glacier | Olden/Stryn | 280 000 |
| 9 | National Tourist Road Sognefjellsvegen | Lom-Luster | 253 953 |
| 10 | Scenic road Atlanterhavsvegen | Averøy/Kristiansund | 237 316 |
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ World Economic Forum’s Travel & Tourism Report Highlights the Importance of Environmental Sustainability. World Economic Forum (2008). Retrieved on 2008-03-06.
- ^ Attraksjon 2006 (PDF) (Norwegian). Innovasjon Norge (2006). Retrieved on 2008-03-06.
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