The downward trend for accommodation establishments in Norway continued in February. Guest nights at hotels fell by 65 per cent compared to the same month last year.
Figures from the accommodation statistics show that there were approximately 0.9 million guest nights at commercial accommodation establishments in February this year. This is 1.3 million fewer guest nights than in February last year. Norwegian guest nights declined by 47 per cent, while foreign guest nights declined by 86 per cent. Guest nights at camping sites and holiday dwellings and youth hostels fell by 6,6 and 40 per cent respectively, reads the recent report of Statistics Norway.
Norway’s travel restrictions were tightened further in February, restricting both travels into the country and between municipalities. Most travelers into Norway were required to quarantine for 10 days, with regulations on the use of quarantine hotels upon entry.
Only one out of four hotel rooms were occupied during the month of February. In the last 30 years, the utilization rate of hotel rooms has been stable in the month of February, around 50 per cent.
The revenue for hotels in February declined by 65 per cent, around the same as guest nights in hotels. The price per room remained around the same, with only a small decline from last February. Prices in Oslo and Troms and Finnmark declined significantly, while prices in Møre og Romsdal increased.
Of the 67 tourism regions Oslo, Bergensregion, Stavangerregion and Hallingdal accounted for almost 28 per cent of all guest nights at hotels in February this year.
The decline in Norwegian guest nights was largest in the largest cities in Norway and at Romerike, while foreign guest nights dropped most in winter destinations such as Valdres, Lillehammer-region, Hallingdal, and Norefjellsregion.
