Travel searches for the Swedish city of Malmo have almost tripled between September 2023 and April 2024, with the main reason for the rise in popularity being the Eurovision Song Contest.
According to Spanish online travel booking company eDreams ODIGEO, travel searches for the coastal Swedish city where the Eurovision Song Contest is scheduled to take place from May 7 to May 11, have increased by 176 per cent, SchengenVisaInfo reports.
One-fifth of all travel searches originate in France, making Frenchmen the most interested nationality to travel to Malmo for the event, followed by Germans and Americans.
The Contest, which gathers artists representing their respective countries, is important for tourism and the participating countries’ cultural identity. Winners get to host the next contest in their own country, opening the door for thousands to millions of visitors.
Malmo will be hosting Eurovision for the second time, with the first being in 2012 when singer Loreen won the contest. More than one decade later, in 2023, the same artist took the trophy home, leading to Malmo being the two-time host of the Contest.
Malmo’s Nearby Destinations Also Rising in Popularity
While Malmo is expected to host 100,000 tourists in May, cities in the neighbouring countries are also witnessing a surge in travel searches. Searches for Copenhagen, which is a 48-minute drive away from Malmo, have increased by 34 per cent during this period.
Those who are willing to arrive a few days earlier and enjoy a mini-Eurotrip can visit Hamburg in Germany, Oslo in Norway, Gdansk in Poland or the Swedish capital of Stockholm, with these destinations being approximately six to eight hours away for rail transport users and up two hours for those flying there.
The Contest takes place during the low season for travel, which includes the period between Easter and summer, but it is the ideal time to explore European cities and enjoy a not-so-hot, even sometimes quite cool weather.
Europe to Host Several Events This Year
Malmo will be paving the way for a very active summer in terms of events, with Eurovision gathering performers from Europe in the Swedish city in May. In 2024, the Swedish music band ABBA will mark its 50th anniversary, so there are more reasons to celebrate in Malmo this year.
From June to July, Germany will be hosting the UEFA European Championship for all football lovers, where European teams will be competing for the crown of the best team.
The fun is not over yet for sports lovers because this year, France will be hosting the Olympics, starting from July 26 to August 11. Thousands of athletes and millions of tourists are expected to be in France during this period, with the country not only offering an experience because of the event but also due to its rich culture and attractive tourism spots.
Before travelling to these countries, nationals of third countries are advised to apply for a visa, if they need one, and complete the necessary documentation for their trip. SchengenVisaInfo has created the Paris Olympics 2024 Travel and Visa Checker, which is a tool that helps visitors regarding their requirements for travelling to the EU for the event.