Market
Oslo Airport is the aviation hub for Norway’s 4.9 million people and the most central Gateway to Scandinavia. The catchment area of 2.5 million is increasing year on year. Oslo is Norway’s centre for business, education, culture and administration.
Norwegians have a high propensity for travel, often taking three or more holiday trips per year and the outbound market is buoyant year round. Norway has the highest GDP per capita in Scandinavia (US$59,100, 60% higher than Denmark and Sweden). Norway has the lowest unemployment rate in Scandinavia (3.3%).
Business market
Business market
Norway has a very export oriented industry and one of the strongest economies of the world. Oil and gas, shipbuilding/equipment, energy and fish farming create a lot of business travel. Norway is the world’s third largest oil & gas exporter and the second largest exporter of fish. A large proportion of Norwegian business is located in the Oslo region, and Oslo's metropolitan area generates a quarter of the country's GDP.
Norway is ranked among the top performers in the ease of doing business. The Norwegian economy is strong, open and globally integrated with a high level of trade and foreign investments, and a favourable international competitiveness.
A strong, open, and productive economy
Norway is a prosperous and stable society with a strong democratic tradition and a political and economic climate that is conducive to industry and business development. Norway has a productive economy and Europe's second highest GDP per capita in Purchasing Power Standard (PPS), according to figures from 2005 by OECD (2006). The corporate tax rate is 28 per cent in Norway, among the lowest in Europe.
Access to EU market
Norway has chosen not to become a member of the European Union (EU), but Norwegian and foreign-owned companies located in Norway have access to the EU market through the European Economic Area (EEA) agreement. The Norwegian economy is considered to be open and international, with a high degree of foreign direct investments.
Companies
A unique mix of strong knowledge-based clusters, a top educated workforce and the highest quality of life makes the Oslo region an attractive place to invest and work. Norway's expertise within advanced technology, research and development (R&D) is clustered around the Oslo region. More than half of Norway's R&D activity is located here and the region provides access to the most highly educated labour force in Europe - a key advantage for innovative businesses operating in the region.
The Oslo region ranks high on innovation in Europe and has a service-based economy with more than eighty per cent employed in the private and public service sectors. Many of them work in high-tech services and the region lays claim to unique expertise within the following knowledge-intensive clusters.
Main clusters: Shipping and Maritime services, Energy and Environmental Technology, ICT, Life Science and Cultural Industries
Companies: 485,900 in Norway, 117,800 in Oslo Region (January 2011). 14 % growth since 2003, more than 10 per cent foreign-owned.
The largest companies in Norway in terms of revenue are (2010):
| Statoil |
| Telenor |
| Norsk Hydro |
| DnB Nor Bank |
| Yara Internationsl |
| Reitangruppen |
| Helse Sør-Øst |
| Orkla |
| Aker Solutions |
| Joh Johannson |
Tourism market
Tourism market
Outbound
In 2007 Norwegians made 5.8 million trips with four overnight stops or more. 80% of Norwegians made at least one holiday trip. 58% of these trips were to other countries than Norway. The most popular holiday destinations for Norwegians are Spain, Denmark and Sweden.
Norwegians made in 2007 21 million trips with one overnight stop or more. On trips to abroad the Norwegians prefer to travel by air and stay on hotels. Women travel more often and on longer trips than men. Residents in Oslo and Akershus travel more often than others in Norway. 34% of all between 16 and 79 years from Oslo and Akershus made 3 or more trips in 2007. It is an increasing share of older people making holiday trips - 66% of those between 67 and 79 years made a holiday trip in 2007. In 2003 this share was 60%.
Inbound
Oslo Airport provides the best access and is an ideal starting point for trips to Scandinavia's prime attractions - the Fjords, Hurtigruten (Coastal Voyage), the polar north, the Midnight Sun and the Northern lights, skiing and the Viking Experience. OSL is also a natural long-haul entry point to Scandinavia and the Baltics, especially from North America.
With four seasons, Norway is an attractive tourism destination all year round with great potential for inbound traffic. Oslo's tourism attractions and activities range from art, museums and the Viking Experience to sailing, hiking, biking and skiing. Brands include the Vikings, Edvard Munch, Ibsen Festival, Thor Heyerdahl, polar exhibitions, Vigeland sculpture park, Holmenkollen ski jump, cruises and winter sports.
Germans, Netherlands, Danish and Swedes are the nationalities that most often travel to Norway. For air travellers only, the Americans, Swedes, Germans, French, British, Danish and Polish travel most often to Norway.
