Denmark and Norway embark on drive to promote motoring holidays
Denmark and Norway are joining forces as part of a campaign to promote motoring holidays from the UK.
The tourist boards from both countries present some convincing arguments for hitting the road, whether in a hire car or in one’s own vehicle.
A Danish Tourist Board spokeswoman said: “Denmark is an ideal motoring destination. The roads are quiet so you can travel around at your own pace.”
DTB information officer Jens Funch agrees. He recommends sailing from Harwich to Esjberg with Scandinavian Seaways and then taking the 4hr drive to Skagen, where the North and Kattegat seas meet at the head of Jutland.
From Skagen, you can drive down the eastern side of Jutland to Aarhus, Denmark’scultural capital, noted for its medieval streets.
Hopscotching from there across the beautiful island of Funen brings you to Zealand, home to both Copenhagen and Elsinor, Prince Hamlet’s castle.
Norwegian Tourist Board regional director Per Holte is just as upbeat about motoring as his Scandinavian neighbours.
“Maybe some people think our rugged scenery is difficult to drive.We do drive on the other side of the road, but our roads have been greatly improved,”he said.
Holte recommends a leisurely 10-day jaunt from Bergen (served by Fjord Line out of Newcastle), through the dramatic Hardangerfjord region, across the central mountains into the forests of Telemark, then into Oslo, and from there to the south coast and Kristiansund, from where Scandinavian Seaways sails back to Newcastle.
“This way you can see the fjords, mountains and beaches, and you don’t have to backtrack,” he said.
“We have just completed a big advertising campaign in the UK and the motoring holiday was very much part of that.”
Now both Scandinavian Seaways and Fjord Line connect England to Norway, Holte sees the motoring market as a growth area.
Scandinavian Seaways and Fjord Line were partners in the campaign, ensuring that motoring got due mention.
Holte said: “We had full-page ads in Sunday national magazines, a poster campaign in 100 train stations in southeast England, and a direct mailing campaign.
“We had 20,000 visitors from the UK in 1998, of which an estimated 10,000 to 15,000 took their own car. We are targeting an increase of at least 10% in 1999.”
At the Danish Tourist Board, motoring is being promoted as an efficient means of touring, both for families staying in country farms and for couples on romantic breaks built around the castles of Denmark.
“We are trying to theme and categorise holidays and we recommend that people bring their cars,” said the DTB spokeswoman. The new Great Belt Bridge linking the islands of Funen and Zealand has cut the journey from eastern to western Denmark by an hour.
Of course, once you’ve crossed over to Scandinavia, you needn’t limit yourself to one country.
Bear in mind the relaxed border crossings and flourishing network of ferries in this region, and you begin to appreciate what a tempting prospect motoring is.
Certainly, tour operators and ferry companies in the UK have been quick to catch on.
Taber Holidays is a Norway flydrive specialist, while Scan Meridian, Norvista and Aeroscope all offer motoring tours in Finland.
Scandinavian Seaways features ferry deals to Denmark, while Scantours and the Scandinavian Travel Service are both offering packages inclusive of a hire car.