Minister of Trade and Industry, Mr Dag Terje Andersen

Norway as a tourist destination

Statement from the Norwegian Minister of Trade and Industry, New Dehli November the 2 ^nd> 2006

Your Royal Highness, Hosts, Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is a great pleasure for me to be here in New Delhi today.

The global tourism industry increases by 4 per cent each year. Making it the fastest growing industry in the world. The number of travelers worldwide is expected to double within 2020. This represents immense opportunities. However, the competition to attract tourists is getting tougher. With an ever-increasing choice of destinations, and the Internet providing unlimited and instant travel information, consumers have unlimited options.

According to the World Tourist and Travel Council, India will be the world's second largest tourism economy by 2016. The travel and tourism sector in India is expected to see an annual growth of 8 per cent from 2007 to 2016. After what I have seen so far, I am not surprised by this forecast. India is a large, beautiful and diverse country that fascinates travellers from all over the world, including Norwegians. My own visits to Mumbai and Agra earlier this week provided me with unforgettable impressions and experiences.

Just like India, Norway has a lot to offer the global traveller. The Norwegian Government focuses on promoting the Norwegian travel and tourism industry. We want to ensure that Norway gets its share of the global increase in tourism.

The Government Declaration of October 2005 announces tourism as one of five areas where Norway has distinct opportunities. Next summer I will launch a National Strategy for the Travel and Tourism Industry. It will communicate the Government’s priorities for the tourism industry for the years to come. Emphasis will be on marketing Norway as a tourist destination domestically and abroad; enhancing competence and cooperation within the industry; and providing a framework that stimulates product development and innovation. The aim is to provide first-class tourism products.

The Government’s efforts are based on a profound belief in Norway’s uniqueness as a tourist destination. Norway offers stunning nature and breathtaking sceneries; interesting history and culture; and outdoor activities and challenges for the more adventurous. Those seeking quiet, calm and space will also find their haven in Norway.

Visiting Northern Norway you can experience the Midnight Sun. During the summer months of June and July the sun shines all night, never disappearing under the horizon. The Northern Lights is another phenomena you can enjoy north of the Arctic Circle. It is the nature’s own fireworks and provides a display of colours playing in the sky during the dark nights of winter.

The Norwegian Coastal Voyage is considered to be one of the most spectacular sea voyages in the world. The luxurious boats bring you into scenic, narrow inlets from the ocean, so-called fjords. On each side you see dramatic mountains rising hundreds of meters straight up from the sea. Two of our fjords are on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Last week National Geographic Traveler ranked these two fjords the world’s best travel destination.

Norwegians are very proud of our prominent cultural personas like the musician Edvard Grieg, the author Henrik Ibsen and our contemporary writer Jostein Gaarder author of “Sophies world”. [8] And then there is the world famous Norwegian painter Edvard Munch. As you might know the Munch painting “Scream” was recently retrieved after having been stolen quite some time ago. Now you have the opportunity to see it, battered but still in one piece, at the Munch museum in Oslo.

I assure you, Norway has much to offer tourists. And I promise you that visiting Norway will provide you with a unique experience with ever-lasting impressions. And who knows. Maybe you can even catch your own salmon.

I wish you a good seminar and hope you have constructive discussions here today. Welcome to Norway!

Thank you for you attention.