ITTN’s Katie Doyle joined press and trade yesterday evening for a fantastic event hosted by The Royal Norwegian Embassy in Dublin, in collaboration with Visit Norway, discovering the wonders of Norway’s Fjords and Northern regions!
In an excellent presentation in the RDS, members of the press learned more about the incredible opportunities available in Northern Norway and Svalbard, alongside the breathtaking fjord areas of Alesund, Bergen and Stavanger.
Changing season to season, Norway’s diverse landscape provides a host of opportunities for every type of visitor- from couples to families to solo-travellers.
Rigmore Myher, Press and Communications Manager for the Northern Norway Tourist Board, showed us how Northern Norway is affected by almost no darkness in the summer months because of its positioning on the north of the Arctic Circle. What is deemed as the ‘Midnight Sun’ means that the sun is above the horizon at midnight, and the rest of the night, and all day! In fact, the sun doesn’t set for 1800 hours at the North Cape.
Comparatively, the Northern Light show begins in the autumn months, commencing from about mid-August, safaris begin to go out from the 21st of September through winter to the 21st of March each year in search of the not-so-elusive aurora light show.
Stina Clarsen, Chief Marketing Officer for Fjord Norway, also gave us a beautiful presentation of the opportunities for tourists in the fjord region. From exploring the beautiful hikes across the mountains to getting up close and personal with glaciers on guided tours that actually bring you into the underbelly of some of the most renowned glaciers in the world. With beautiful winding roads that have been featured in Hollywood movies from James Bond to Mission Impossible, kayaking trips across lakes and rivers and an abundance of trails up and down the mountains- Ms Clarsen tells us that you must experience Fjords by car, water, and hike to truly understand the scale and beauty of the area she represents. Another great tip for travellers is that the region is quieter in the winter periods, with the air being cool and calm compared to the sometimes fogginess of water evaporation in summer- meaning this is a perfect time to visit for adventurers looking for a stunning view. There are also a range of unique accommodation options up and down Norway. From ice hotels, to historical inns in UNESCO World Heritage Town Bergen, travellers can choose to stay out under the stars in specially designed hammocks, sleep under the Northern Lights in glass pods and connect with nature on sledding and camping trips.
Kristin Gaustad, Sales and Marketing Manager for Leisure Travel at Widerøe then spoke about accessibility for tourists to both Northern Norway and the Fjords region. Widerøe is a Norwegian airline, and the largest regional airline operating in the Nordic countries. The airline’s fleet of 48 aircraft includes 45 De Havilland Dash 8 turboprops as well as 3 Embraer 190-E2 aircraft, serving 49 domestic and international destinations. Widerøe’s direct flight between Dublin and Bergen have proven very successful since they launched in 2023. With increasing demand in both directions, Widerøe recently added more frequency to the route. From April 2025, the airline will offer four weekly flights direct from Dublin Airport to Bergen, operating on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays. Here’s the schedule:
From Dublin
Saturdays: WF373 depart Dublin 11:00
Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays: WF373 depart Dublin 12:50
Return from Bergen
Saturdays: WF372 depart Bergen 08:40 (except for the period 28 June – 16 August when it is 09.10)
Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays: WF372 depart Bergen 11:05
Having learned all there is to know about the region, press joined more suppliers and travel trade on a bus to the Ambassador’s Residence on Ailesbury Road. There, guests had time to chat and network enjoying wine and Norwegian Schnapps in the beautiful airy foyer, living area and dining hall. They also enjoyed fantastic gourmet delicacies reflecting Norway’s rich culture and heritage centred around seafood- enjoying bite-sized lobster rolls, caviar and crab alongside other hot and cold dishes.
Then the group heard from Aslak Brun, Norway’s Ambassador to Ireland, who took up the position in September 2024. Welcoming agents, suppliers and press alike, Mr Brun spoke about the rich history that our two countries share along the Atlantic Coast, we now have incredible access between both our countries with Widerøe’s expanding route.
Lucky travel agents and tour operators then took part in a raffle presented by Marianne Johnsen of Fjord Norway. They received fantastic gifts from ponchos and a salmon-skin wallet to dog-sledding vouchers for their next rip, fantastic 4 star resorts like Thon Hotels Gavekort stays and the big prize of the night- a full immersive experience including accommodation, sleigh rides and more across Norway for one luck Travel Counsellor, Emma Dowling presented by Mattis Vigsø-Holsen, Senior Account Manager for Lost in Norway!
