Norway’s Fløibanen funicular: on track for sustainability

The Norwegian Ministry of Trade, Industry and Fisheries asked the strategy group Tourism 2030 to propose measures for research and innovation aimed at developing a more sustainable and competitive tourism industry.

“Norway has the potential to become a world-leading destination for sustainable tourism,” said Cecilie Myrseth, the Minister for Trade and Industry, when she received the strategy “Tourism 2030 – a research and innovation strategy for the tourism industry”.

“We need a sector that creates year-round workplaces and profitable growth 12 months a year.”

Tourism is one of Norway’s largest export sectors, employing around 7 to 8 per cent of the working population. It creates jobs but is also characterised by low wages, seasonal variations and irregular working hours. This makes it challenging to attract and retain staff.

The pandemic led to a sharp reduction in climate emissions from tourism, especially from air and cruise traffic. But that trend turned quickly – more cruise ships docked in 2023 than before the pandemic. Cruise traffic is linked to high emissions and low local value creation per visitor.

Estimated growth towards 2030 points to an increased risk of over-tourism, especially in popular summer destinations. As early as 2019, around half of the residents in such destinations said there were at times too many visitors.  

Read an executive summary of the Tourism 2030 report here

Read the entire Tourism 2030 report here (in Norwegian)