LOW prices and cheap flights are attracting a new Viking invasion to Scotland – as thousands of Scandinavian tourists come for a round of golf.
Industry chiefs said yesterday that Swedish, Danish and Norwegian tourists were becoming an increasingly important sector of the Scottish market – with 133,000 visitors spending about £74 million in 2006.
According to VisitBritain, they are attrac
ted by the relatively mild weather, which makes it possible to play golf in Scotland all year round.
The Swedes are particularly keen golfers, thanks in part to the success of professionals Annika Sorenstam, Jesper Parnevik and Henrik Stenson.
Euan Grant, keeper of the green at Machrihanish Dunes golf club in Kintyre, and former head greenkeeper of the Old Course at St Andrews, said he had noticed a huge increase in interest from Scandinavian golfers.
"We've had record numbers of Scandinavians making inquiries about coming to Scotland to play golf, especially in winter. Almost all of their own courses are closed between December and April," he said.
"We recently attended Scandinavia's leading trade and consumer travel exhibition, TUR, in Gothenburg, as an exhibitor to promote Golf Kintyre. We were amazed by the interest and excitement we generated."
Inga Gamming, Swedish chairman of the European Golf Writers Association, said: "Many Swedish golfers like the kind of courses we don't have in Sweden – the links courses.
"Most Swedes speak English, so we like to come to an English-speaking country. And everybody wants to play St Andrews at least once in their lifetime.
"Most visitors coming from Sweden will want to play one or two famous courses and then to play some country courses that are not so expensive."
Doug Gove, owner of the Aberdeen-based Fore & More golf tours, said: "I get a lot of Norwegians who come across and they have specific courses that they like to play on. I think it's just because of word of mouth back home in Bergen.
"They love to play the links courses. I have heard from Norwegian golfers that what we have to offer here is a great deal better than what they have at home."
Sharon Makepeace, a spokeswoman with VisitScotland, said: "Over the last couple of years Scotland has become one of the must-see destinations for Scandinavian tourists.
"Scandinavians are attracted to Scotland as the home of golf, whisky and car touring and are interested in the dramatic scenery the country holds. Trips to Scotland are especially popular in Sweden which has the second largest number of registered golfers following the UK."
HERE FOR THE GOLF – AND THE SHOPS AND WHISKYIT IS not just golf that brings Scandinavian tourists to Scotland.
VisitScotland research suggests peace and quiet, touring the countryside, shopping in Edinburgh and Glasgow and visiting distilleries are also part of the appeal for visitors from Sweden, Denmark and Norway.
While once the number of Scandinavians was minimal, now Sweden alone is the tenth-biggest source of customers for Scottish tourism.
A spokesperson for the tourism agency said: "Swedes are attracted by Scotland's dramatic scenery and interested in its distinctive history, heritage and traditions.
"They want to interact with the Scots when they are here, experiencing the pubs, whisky and traditional music and culture."
