Search China Travel News:

Norway is witnessing a surge in Asian arrivals with double-digit growth of 70 percent this year from January to September.

Per Holte, director of tourism, Innovation Norway, a new organisation that took over the tourism helm from the Norwegian Tourist Board, predicts that Asians will form the top inbound market in five years.

As such, Norway is stepping up its promotional efforts in the region with the focus on China, Japan, South Korea, Singapore and Malaysia.

This would entail activities directed at the travel agents and tour operators and participation in Asian trade shows such as CITM.

A Chinese language website will be launched by December, with existing Korean and Japanese language websites enhanced.

Norway's joint promotion budget with Sweden and Denmark is US$3 million for this year and the country forecasts Asian tourist arrivals to rise by 20 to 30 percent in 2005.

Holte said Norway is targeting the avid Asian traveller and tapping into the robust growth in travel from the region. Though China is a "fairly young market" he said, there are plans to open a second representative office on the Mainland.

This would be in Shanghai and is pending approval from the Chinese authorities. Though London and Paris are the gateway cities to Europe, Holte is confident that Norway offers a unique product.

There are the scenic fjords in Western Norway for cruising, glacier watching, skiing and Viking tours. The country also has an enthusiastic tourism ambassador in Queen Sonja of Norway. She was in Singapore to give the key address at the Norwegian tourism seminar, sharing her personal experience of travelling in Norway with picturesque visual. Arrivals to Norway was 4.5 million in 2003.