TOURISM & CONSULAR INFORMATION

Norway: Oslo Airport trials new electric powered aircraft de-icing truck

NordenBladet – Oslo Airport has welcomed a new electrically operated de-icing unit, the Vestergaard Elephant e-BETA, for the final few weeks of winter. In a first of its kind trial in Europe, the airport believes that the Menzies Aviation operated vehicle will improve the performance of its aircraft de-icing operation and lower its carbon footprint.

Indeed, initial tests indicate that using the electrically driven de-icing truck will reduce greenhouse gases, including carbon dioxide and nitrogen oxides, by 87% per vehicle each year.

Avinor’s director of airport services at Oslo Airport, Ole Petter Storstad, said: “Avinor has a goal that its own operations at Oslo Airport will be fossil-free by 2030.

“We are therefore pleased that our partners are working in the same direction and have a green focus when they further develop their services.”

Menzies is currently operating 11 Vestergaard rigs as part of their de-icing fleet at Oslo Airport, one of the world’s busiest de-icing hubs.

This trial complements Menzies’ ‘Go Green’ project, established in Oslo in 2018, through which Menzies has made significant investment into reduced-emissions ground handling equipment to reduce its carbon footprint, with 90% of ramp equipment replaced with modern, electric units last year.

Should the trial be successful and the Vestergaard Elephant e-BETA rolled out, 97% of Menzies’ Oslo-based ground support equipment would be electric.

Thomas Hoff Andersson, vice president of Northern Europe for Menzies Aviation, said: “The successful trial of this electrically-driven de-icer promises to bolster not only the sustainability of our de-icing operations at Oslo Airport, but the sustainability of the industry at large.”

Featured photo: Unsplash
Source: VacationHunter.online

Norway: Stay at home, have as little social contact as possible

NordenBladet – Norway stands at the beginning of the second wave of infection. The virus is spreading rapidly and all counties now have outbreaks of infection. The Government is therefore introducing new national infection control measures.

“My message to the Norwegian people is: Stay at home as much as possible. Have the least possible social contact with others. Together we can reverse the alarming trend in infection rates, but it requires all of us to be a part of this huge effort in the coming weeks,” says Prime Minister Erna Solberg.

She emphasises that the most important thing is that everyone follows the basic advice of keeping your distance, keeping your hands clean, staying at home when you are sick, and keeping down the number of people you meet.

“We are now seeing a sharp increase in people who are testing positive. The situation is very serious, and it is challenging for many municipalities to track the infection. We don’t have time to wait and see if the measures we introduced last week are sufficient. We must act now to avoid a new shutdown like we had in March,“ says Prime Minister Erna Solberg.

There has been a significant increase in the spread of infection in recent weeks. At the beginning of August, there were 300 new infections per week. The number of cases has jumped significantly since then, and in the last week of October, 3,000 new infections were registered. In the last three weeks, Norway has seen more than 6,000 new infections. The curve is becoming steeper with each week.

“If this trend continues, it will create major challenges for the health service, as we see happening in country after country in Europe. We are therefore introducing new measures that are adapted to the infection situation we are now in. It’s especially important to target the measures so that we reduce social contact and travel to and from abroad,” says Minister of Health and Care Services Bent Høie.

Below are key recommendations and advice that currently apply.

Recommendations for everyone across the country Social contact

  • Recommendation that everyone in the coming weeks must stay at home as much as possible and limit social contact with other people. (New)
  • The number of guests at social gatherings in private homes, gardens or cabins should not exceed five, in addition to the household members. If all the guests come from the same household, more than five guests are permitted. Two families with many children can still meet.
  • The restriction limiting social gatherings to five guests does not apply to day care centre or primary school cohorts.
  • Young people and adults who have been with friends and in other situations where they have not been one metre apart, should stay two metres away from people in the risk group. (New)
  • In addition to the recommendations, there will be a new rule for how many people can be at private gatherings and events, see under rules for the whole country.

Travel

  • Avoid unnecessary domestic travel. Work travel that is considered necessary and trips to leisure properties that can be carried out without contact with others are exempt. (New)

Schools and education

  • All universities, university colleges and vocational schools must assess whether in the period ahead they can reduce teaching and other activities that contribute to increased mobility, including pressure on public transport. (New)
  • Upper secondary schools and lower secondary schools must prepare for the fact that the level of measures may turn red, if the infection rate continues to rise. (New)

Rules for everyone throughout the country
Private gatherings and events

  • Limit of up to 20 people at private gatherings in public places and in rented venues and 50 people at indoor events without fixed seats. Indoors, there can be up to 200 people at events where everyone in the audience sits in fixed seats. The change will enter into force at midnight, Monday 9 November. (New)

Nightlife

  • National ban on serving alcohol after midnight. Restaurants with a licence to sell alcohol cannot let in new guests after 22.00. This will take effect from from 00:01 Saturday November 7th. (New)

Quarantines and travel

  • Work travellers who have been in an area where the level of infection is particularly high during the 10-day period before their arrival in Norway will no longer be able to be exempted from the duty of quarantine during work hours on the basis of undergoing a test for Covid-19 once every three days, see Section 6c of the Covid-19 regulations. The general requirement to go into quarantine on entry to Norway will therefore apply in principle to all workers arriving from these areas.
  • For workers who may make use of the exemption from the duty of quarantine set out in Section 6c of the Covid-19 regulations, the following amendments to the rules have been made: workers who are allowed to work but must be in quarantine during leisure time are to be tested once every three days and must be given accommodation in a single room for the first 10 days of their stay in Norway The employer must ensure that it is possible to maintain social distancing when workers are undergoing quarantine during leisure time. There is no longer any exemption to the requirement to go into quarantine on entry to Norway during leisure time.
  • Travellers from red countries must present a certificate of a negative Covid-19 test when they arrive in Norway. The test must have been taken less than 72 hours before entry. If the person does not present such a test, he or she may be refused entry. This will be implemented from midnight, Monday 9 November. (New)
    • The requirement will not apply to Norwegians, persons who reside in Norway or persons in transit.
    • The requirement does not apply to people who regularly come to Norway from Sweden and Finland to work.
    • The requirement applies to health personnel who commute to Norway and who have been outside Norway for more than seven days.
    • Personnel with jobs critical to society may be exempted when necessary to avoid danger to life and health.
  • Persons who come to Norway must have a permanent residence in the country, or the employer or client must provide a guarantee of a suitable place of residence upon arrival in Norway. Persons, including tourists and visitors, who do not have their own residence or employer or client in Norway must stay in quarantine hotels and get tested during the quarantine period. This also applies to family members who come to visit relatives in Norway. The Norwegian Directorate of Health has been tasked with studying how these requirements can be introduced. Until this is established, border controls will be strengthened in accordance with existing regulations. (New)

New measures in regions with widespread infection
The Government is adding several measures that municipalities in residential and working regions with high contagion pressure should consider introducing.

The Norwegian Directorate of Health and the Norwegian Institute of Public Health will assess exactly which measures are relevant in different regions of the country, so that it is clear which measures are necessary to assess when the infection situation develops. Municipalities in a residential and working region that introduce measures should make them the same and coordinated as possible. The circular with proposals for local measures will be updated in accordance with the changes.

  • Halt in recreational sports for adults
  • Consider a halt to recreational sports for children and young people under the age of 20
  • Additional restrictions on restaurants, such as a complete stop to serving alcohol or closing at 22.00 to reduce the number of visitors during an evening
  • Additional restrictions on the size of various events
  • Recommendation on the use of face masks in taxis when their use is recommended in public transport
  • Red level in upper secondary schools. Lower secondary schools should prepare for the red level
  • Two metres distance for indoor physical activities
  • Mandatory home office
  • Stronger recommendation to avoid public transport
  • Close or restrict operations and activities that have a high potential for spreading infection, such as swimming pools, gyms, sports halls, bingo halls, museums, libraries, event venues without fixed seats and other public places where many people meet indoors

Work in progress:

  • The Norwegian Directorate of Health is tasked with studying whether rapid testing should be recommended or adopted at a national level before employees go to work in nursing homes and care homes, and the use of face masks in such places.
  • The Norwegian Directorate of Health is tasked with updating professional advice that will protect vulnerable groups in the health and care services. The Norwegian Directorate of Health shall also prepare guidelines and guidance material that will ensure necessary services for service recipients living at home and their next of kin.
  • The Norwegian Directorate of Health is tasked with revising guidelines on infection control in public transport and introducing stricter measures. This also applies to school buses.

More information about the measures introduced last week.

Featured image: Pexels

Estonia: Travel restrictions apply to all people entering Estonia from Monday

NordenBladet – All travelers entering Estonia must follow the quarantine guidelines from Monday, November 9. Travelers from Latvia, Lithuania and Finland have several exemptions.

Starting from November 9, the coronavirus infection rate limit concerning restrictions on the freedom of movement in Estonia is 50 per 100,000. The limit is reviewed on a weekly basis on Fridays and the new limit will take force the following Monday.

Based on the coronavirus infection rate, starting from Monday, a 10-day restriction on the freedom of movement will apply to passengers arriving in Estonia from the following European countries: Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia*, Liechtenstein, Lithuania*, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the Vatican and the United Kingdom.

The infection rate of the Vatican is 0 but anyone travelling to Estonia from there through Italy is subject to the 10-day restriction on the freedom of movement.

Based on Order No 282 of Government of Estonia, the restriction on the freedom of movement does not apply to asymptomatic people who have been on the territory of Lithuania, Latvia or Finland in the past 14 days and have arrived to Estonia directly from Lithuania, Latvia or Finland with the following preconditions:

Firstly, the person has taken a coronavirus test within 48 hours before their arrival in Estonia and the result is negative. When travelling to these countries from Estonia and returning to Estonia, it is possible to take the coronavirus test in Estonia, and return to normal life in case of a negative result. It is required to remain in self-isolation while waiting for the test results.

Hospitals expanding coronavirus wards

Secondly, if they arrive in Estonia for the purpose of working, studying or receiving health services or for family reasons or transit. When travelling to Estonia for the reasons listed above, it is not required to take a coronavirus test before arriving in Estonia.

The infection rate of each country is below:

  • Andorra 1619,9
  • Austria 614,8
  • Belgium 1693,2
  • Bulgaria 446,5
  • Croatia 693,8
  • Czech Republic 1594,4
  • Cyprus 243,6
  • Denmark 233,0
  • Finland 51,8*
  • France 874,3
  • Germany 247,6
  • Greece 182,4
  • Hungary 437,0
  • Iceland 212,6
  • Ireland 205,1
  • Italy 564,5
  • Latvia 153,9*
  • Liechtenstein 1070,9
  • Lithuania 352,6*
  • Luxembourg 1412,8
  • Malta 316,9
  • Monaco 420,1
  • Netherlands 753,5
  • Norway 97,3
  • Poland 624,0
  • Portugal 493,1
  • Romania 391,4
  • San Marino 638,6
  • Slovakia 608,6
  • Slovenia 1125,7
  • Spain 596,6
  • Sweden 301,0
  • Switzerland 1169,6
  • United Kingdom 464,9
  • Vatican 0,0**

The full list can be seen here.

On October 22, the Council of the European Union reviewed the list of third countries included in Annex 1 of its recommendation on the gradual lifting of the temporary restrictions on non-essential travel into the EU, and according to the list, it is possible to travel to Estonia from Australia, Japan, New Zealand, Rwanda, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand and Uruguay. Starting from next week, only travelers arriving in Estonia from Uruguay are obligated to self-isolate for 10 days.

From September 1, people arriving in Estonia from high-risk countries can shorten the mandatory self-isolation and return to work by testing for COVID-19 at the airport and port.

Testing is free of charge for Estonian residents; foreigners can take the test at a cost of €67 and can pay on the spot by card.

Until the test results are known, a person must stay in complete self-isolation. In the case of a negative result, the person will be notified via text message, positive results will be communicated over the phone. The result will also be visible when entering the health information system with an ID card.

Health Board: Day brings 229 COVID-19 cases

In the case of a negative test result, the person must stay in limited self-isolation for the first seven days following arrival to Estonia, i.e. the person can go to work and, for example, a shop, but unnecessary contacts must be avoided. The person should also keep their distance from others while at work.

A second test must be performed no earlier than seven days after the results of the first test, and if it is also negative, a person can resume their daily life.

What does quarantine mean?

This means that within 14 calendar days of their arrival in Estonia, people must refrain from unnecessary contacts and can leave their place of residence or permanent accommodation only for seeing a doctor and shopping for food, essentials and medicines, or in emergencies.

Who is required to restrict their freedom of movement?

All symptomatic Estonian citizens and residents arriving in Estonia.

Passengers arriving from countries of the European Union, the European Economic Area and the Schengen area who began their trip from a country belonging to this region or transited a country of this region, based on the infection rate:

  • The mandatory self-isolation does not apply to passengers arriving in Estonia from a country with an infection rate below 25 per 100,000 inhabitants;
  • If the infection rate of the country is between 25 and 50, the need to self-isolate depends on whether the infection rate is below or above the rate of Estonia times 1.1;
  • If the infection rate is below that of Estonia, the person is not required to self-isolate;
  • If it is above the infection rate of Estonia, a two-week mandatory self-isolation applies.

Foreign ministry: Essential travel only

Due to the spread of the coronavirus, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs advises against any non-essential international travel.

In cases where travelling is essential, the Foreign Ministry advises keeping the following in mind:

    • Before planning your trip, please consult the Foreign Ministry website for the infection rate in your planned country of destination;
    • Stay up to date with possible travel restrictions in your destination – please consult the Reisi Targalt website, the ReOpen portal of the European Union, and, if necessary, contact the foreign mission of the country of destination for details;
    • Register your trip at the Foreign Ministry’s Reisi Targalt website to allow us to notify you of possible travel restrictions;
    • Follow the recommendations of the Estonian Health Board for a safe flight to protect your health and that of others – if you show symptoms, please postpone your trip and contact your GP;
    • Take out travel insurance and carefully read the conditions of your insurance (including for travel interruptions caused by COVID-19);
    • At your destination, follow the instructions of local authorities and keep up to date with possible new restrictions;
    • On your return, follow the rules introduced in Estonia, monitor your health, and if you suspect you have been infected with the virus, contact your GP.

Featured image: Pexels

Iceland adopts the WTTC global safety and hygiene stamp

NordenBladet — Iceland is among 145 destinations to adopt the World Travel & Tourism Council’s (WTTC) global safety and hygiene stamp, which was launched earlier this year. The Safe Travels stamp was developed as the first of its kind to help restore confidence in travellers and aims to revive an ailing Travel & Tourism sector. It is now being used by over 145 destinations, including major holiday hotspots such as Puerto Rico, Philippines, Portugal, Turkey and Maldives.

The stamp allows travellers to identify which destinations around the world have adopted standardised global health and hygiene protocols – so they can experience ‘Safe Travels’.

This landmark move by WTTC also received the backing of the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO).

The launch of global protocols to recover the Travel & Tourism sector have been embraced by over 200 CEO’s, including some of the world’s major tourism groups.

Gloria Guevara, WTTC President & CEO, said: “We are absolutely delighted with the success of our Safe Travels stamp. More than 145destinations now proudly use the stamp, all of which are working together to help rebuild consumer confidence worldwide. Global coordination is more important than ever in the road to recovery.

“As the stamp continues growing in popularity, travellers will more easily be able to recognise destinations around the world which have adopted these important standardised global protocols, encouraging the return of ‘Safe Travels’ around the world.

“The success of the stamp shows its importance both to countries and destinations, but also to travellers and the 330 million people around the world who work in and depend on, a thriving the Travel & Tourism sector.”

Mr. Skarphedinn Berg Steinarsson, Director General, Icelandic Tourist Board, said:

“The Icelandic Tourist Board has implemented Clean & Safe guidelines for tourism businesses who are working hard to adhere to government and public health and is committed to achieve traveller confidence and ensure safety. The guidelines are aligned with WTTC, to whom we want to express our gratitude for its effort in establishing and developing the new global safety stamp and Safe Travels protocols.

“As the tourism industry starts to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic and people feel like travelling again, it is important that tourism companies are ready to welcome their guests and customers in a safe and responsible way. Global collaboration with harmonised guidelines is vital and help us in achieving this goal, to restore the public’s confidence in the tourism sector for future travel.

The widespread adoption of the stamp demonstrates that WTTC and all its Members from around the world have the safety and hygiene of travellers as their top priority.

Evidence from WTTC’s Crisis Readiness report, which looked at 90 different types of crises in the last 20 years, highlights the importance of public-private cooperation and the implementation of standardised protocols.

WTTC has been at the forefront of leading the private sector in the drive to rebuild global consumer confidence and encourage the return of Safe Travels.

According to WTTC’s 2020 Economic Impact Report, during 2019, Travel & Tourism was responsible for one in 10 jobs (330 million total), making a 10.3% contribution to global GDP and generating one in four of all new jobs.

Featured image: Pexels

 

Corona information to all companies working with Denmark: Denmark remains open for business

NordenBladet – The Danish Government has implemented border control at all of Denmark’s borders as part of the effort to curb the spread of Covid-19. Persons wishing to enter Denmark must expect to be rejected at the Danish borders, including in Danish airports, unless they have a worthy purpose for entering. In the context of trade relations, a worthy purpose (anerkendelsesværdigt formål) for entering is understood as:

  • Persons residing or working in Denmark, including self-employed entrepreneurs performing work in Denmark
  • Persons commissioned to deliver goods or services to Denmark or transport goods out of Denmark

It is important to emphasize to all companies working with Denmark that Denmark remains open for business. Freight transport will be able to access Denmark in order to not disrupt the necessary supply chains including food supply, as well as to maintain Denmark’s imports and exports of goods and services from and to other countries that is important to uphold the Danish economy.

“Denmark is taking the necessary steps to address corona. While tourism is temporarily paused, the inflow of goods and services remains open. We remain an outward-looking country open for business.”
Jeppe Kofod, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Denmark

Despite Denmark’s closed borders to prevent the spread of coronavirus, the Danish government has set up fast tracks for import and export of goods and services to guarantee continued cross-border trade between Denmark and foreign companies.

“It is crucial for companies and the Danish society that the borders are open for transportation of goods. The borders will remain open for persons commissioned to provide goods or services in Denmark and trucks will be able to cross the border into and out of Denmark,”
the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Denmark, Jeppe Kofod, continues.

The Danish authorities are continuously assessing the potential need for further measures regarding entry into Denmark. For updates on current measures (in Danish), see the website coronasmitte.dk

Featured image: Pexels

Iceland: Limited Number of Tourists Allowed in Some Ice Caves

NordenBladet – A limited number of people will from now on be allowed to visit ice caves and to go glacier hiking within five areas in the southern part of Vatnajökull National Park, Morgunblaðið reports. The park received applications from 27 businesses specializing in such trips.

These applications have now been processed and the businesses have each been allocated a tourist quota within the five areas.

This is the first time that access to a natural resource such as glaciers is being controlled in this way, states Magnús Guðmundsson, manager of the park.

The goal of the policy is to protect nature by reducing tourist traffic in these areas. Magnús states that at times, far too many tourists have flocked to some of these areas, and that there has been next to no attempt to limit their numbers.

At present, contracts with the businesses which were allocated quotas are being finalized. “This has begun smoothly,” Magnús states. “I believe most people are pleased this process has started.”

Included in the plan are visits to ice caves and glacier hikes in five areas in the glaciers Breiðamerkurjökull – east and west side, Falljökull/Virkisjökull, Skeiðarárjökull and Skálafellsjökull. The maximum number of tourists allowed in these five areas a day is 650, 650, 1,000, 500 and 500, respectively.

Appplications were received for considerably higher numbers of tourists for the first three areas, or 1,564, 1,481 and 1,273, respectively, while applications for Skeiðarárjökull and Skálafellsjökul were below the maximum number.

This is a complicated and exciting project, Magnús states, which focuses on many aspects, including tourist safety.

On July 5, Vatnajökull National Park was inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List, which includes landmarks regarded to have outstanding universal value in terms of culture, nature, or other areas, making them part of the world’s heritage.

Featured image: Vatnajökull National Park, Iceland (Davide Cantelli / Unsplash.com)

Finland: Finnair to cut 1,000 jobs in response to new travel restrictions

NordenBladet – Finnair announced it will initiate consultative negotiations with 2,800 of its staff with a view to reducing its headcount by roughly 1,000, reports Helsingin Sanomat. The Finnish majority state-owned airline cited new travel restrictions as the reason for the redundancies, explaining that they have left it in a situation where it believes temporary lay-offs will not suffice.

The airline will also resort to new temporary lay-offs and extend the temporary lay-offs of almost all of its employees in Finland.

No members of its flight crew are presently at risk of losing their job, however. Finnair revealed that its objective is to safeguard the continuation of its core business and ensure its flight crew – namely, pilots, co-pilots and cabin crew – can resume work gradually once the markets begin to recover and the number of flights increase.

The airline also announced it will raise the target of its belt-tightening campaign from 80 to 100 million euros.

Topi Manner, the CEO of Finnair, on Tuesday reiterated that the coronavirus pandemic is the worst crisis in the history of the aviation industry. The pandemic and the “exceptionally strict” travel restrictions adopted by the government have undermined demand for flights to the extent that the airline will operate only a small share of the flights it did last year.

“No immediate change for the better is unfortunately on the horizon,” he added. “Our revenues have diminished substantially, and that is why we simply have to align our costs with our new size.”

Finnair saw its passenger traffic come to a near complete stop due to the adoption of travel restrictions in and outside Finland in April and May. Although the coinciding up-tick in cargo traffic offset some of the losses, the airline was incurring a daily operating loss of two million euros.

Although passenger services started to increase last month, the volumes remained at about 10 per cent of those of July 2019.

Manner estimated last month that the airline could be able to operate roughly a half of its usual flights as soon as in September. The estimate has since been lowered to 30 per cent due to the adoption of new travel restrictions by the Finnish government.

“Airlines are fighting for their existence,” conceded Tytti Tuppurainen (SDP), the Minister of European Affairs and Ownership Steering.

The Finnish government, she underlined, has yet to make any decisions on additional financial support for the airline but is committed to supporting the airline to overcome the coronavirus pandemic.

“As the majority owner, we’re committed to supporting the company in weathering this difficult crisis,” she affirmed.

Featured image: NordenBladet

KNOW YOUR RIGHTS! Less than half of EU travellers are aware of EU Passenger Rights

NordenBladet – The European Commission released the results (13.01.2020) of a Eurobarometer survey on passenger rights in the European Union (EU). According to the survey, 43% of EU citizens who have travelled by air, long-distance rail, coach, ship or ferry in the previous 12 months (‘travellers’) know that the EU has put in place rights for passengers.

Commissioner for Transport Adina Vălean said: “The European Union is the only area in the world where citizens are protected by a full set of passenger rights. However, these rights need to be better known and easier to understand and enforced. Our rules should also provide more legal certainty to passengers and the industry. This is why the Commission proposed to modernise air and rail passenger rights.We now need Council and the European Parliament to swiftly reach agreement on them to ensure that people travelling in the EU are effectively protected.”

Passenger rights are defined at EU level. They are applied by transport providers and enforced by national bodies. Disparities between national practices can make it hard for passengers to get a clear picture of what to do and to whom to turn, especially as passengers often move across EU borders.

The Commission has already stepped up efforts to make passenger rights clearer, and to raise awareness about these rights. The Commission has done so through legislative proposals for air and rail passenger rights, through guidelines, and through regular communication about relevant case law. The Commission also launched an awareness-raising campaign.

More results from the survey:

  • 32% of all respondents (including those who did not travel with one of the transport modes referred to above in the last 12 months) know passenger rights exist in the EU, for air, rail, coach or ship or ferry transport. But only 14% are specifically aware for air travel, 8% for rail, 5% for coach and 3% for travel by ship or ferry. Respondents who have travelled by at least one of these modes are more likely to be aware of passenger rights (43% vs 32%), although this remains below 50%.
  • The percentage of travellers who feel they were well informed about their rights by transport companies before travelling varies by transport mode: 40% for air passengers, 29% for ship or ferry passengers, 26% for rail passengers and 26% for coach passengers. Percentages are even lower for information received during and after travel.
  • Respondents who have experienced disruption during air travel are more likely to have complained than those using other modes: 37% of air passengers vs 26% of coach passengers, 24% of rail passengers, and 18% of ship or ferry passengers complained. All modes combined: 26%. Among respondents who experienced a travel disruption but did not make an official complaint (72%), the most likely reason for not complaining was the feeling that it was useless to do so (45%), followed by the amount of money involved being seen as too small (25%).
  • Of those who have experienced air travel disruption over the last 12 months, 53% indicated that the airline offered some form of help (either food and drinks or alternative flight, reimbursement, financial compensation, accommodation, etc.), whether passengers complained or not. Only 43% of rail passenger respondents, and 38% who had travelled by coach, ship or ferry indicated that transport companies offered help in case of disruptions.
  • 55% of respondents who complained to the transport company about disruption say they were satisfied by the way their complaint was dealt with, but only 37% of those who had experienced a disruption claimed to be satisfied with the way the transport company informed them about complaints procedures.
  • A large majority (81%) of those who have at some point requested assistance for a person with a disability or reduced mobility (i.e. 8% of respondents) declare themselves satisfied with the transport company’s response. Fewer (60%) expressed satisfaction when more than one mode was used.

Next steps

The survey results will feed into two ongoing legislative procedures, on rail and air passenger rights, as well as evaluations of the rights of bus & coach passengers, the rights of ship and ferry passengers, and the rights of air passengers with disabilities or reduced mobility (view HERE). Accessibility to multimodal transport for these passengers, as well as other travellers, will also be considered in this context.

Background information

The survey was conducted between 19 February and 4 March 2019, and involved interviewing 27,973 EU citizens.

EU legislation to protect passenger rights and ensure they are not lost in a myriad of national rules has been introduced for all transport modes – this is unique in the world, no other continent offers passengers of all modes such protection.

More information

The full results of the Eurobarometer survey on Passenger Rights

Information on EU passenger rights is available on the Your Europe web pages.

Photo: Pexels

EXHAUSTIVE OVERVIEW: who were the ancient Scandinavian origin Vikings and when was the time of the Vikings?

NordenBladet – The Vikings were ancient Scandinavian origin seafarers whose characteristic culture flourished around the 8th until the 11th century (the so called Viking Era). The name “Viking” apparently stems from ancient Nordic word vik that stands for gulf; viking therefore is someone from the gulf, a seafarer. Although the vikings have given their name to an entire era, these warrior-seafarers made up a relatively small proportion of the population of those times, the majority of the people were peaceful farmers. According to yet another theory the name viking comes from old English word wic that stands for a merchandising settlement. Besides the conquering missions the vikings were also engaged in handicraft and trade.

The Vikings were skilled boat builders; their dragon longboats’ board and square sail guaranteed a safe journey on the sea during those times. The trips took them to Iceland, Greenland and North-American shores. Before the dawn of great discoveries the Vikings had a significant role to play in exploring novel lands, however, the word about their travels weren’t widely spread, since they didn’t complete surveys nor create any maps based on measurements.

The Vikings that set sail for Eastern lands were also known as the Varangians. Their activity spread as far as the Byzantine and they played an important political role in the development of the Kyiv-Russian state. On the coast of France the Varangians were known as the Normans.

The Viking trips were also conveyed (especially during the 11th-12th centuries) by Estonians, especially folks from Saaremaa.

Due to weak political arrangements, the spread of Christianity and the development of warfare the Vikings remained in the shadow in 12th century Europe. They founded their settlements here and there and blended in with the local people.

Interest for the activities of Vikings was kindled once more in the Romanticism period when they were depicted as non-historically idealised madly courageous great warriors. Based on influence of recent popculture (movies, comic strips, etc) a rather incorrect image of Viking activities, outlook and lifestyle was spread. Nowadays the followers of ancient Viking Era copy the material and intellectual heritage in their daily life, in Viking camps, festivals, in open air museums and theme parks.

The Norse race being depicted in a mythical and untrue manner gave way to national socialist ideology. A section of the admirers of Vikings have summoned under odinism, asatra, wotanism and other neopaganist religious sects. Extremist ideology and seeking confrontation has lead to serial burning of churches in Norway by the fan of vikings Varg Vikernese.

In the period of 300 years, roughly from 800 – 1050 A.D., central Europe was held under terror by wild men from the Nordics – the Viking warriors. The ambition to collect more silver and gold, slaves and new territioris drove the Vikings to set sail and depart from their homes in current Norway, Denmark and Sweden. Their unexpected and cruel bursts of robberies were legendary; Christian monks described with great horror the looting raids and destruction that befell the wealthy monasteries and towns.

But the Vikings did more than destroy. They were also smart traders, experienced sailors, skilled handicraftsmen and ship builders. They lived in the world of poets and sagas, in daily life matters their society was significantly open and democratic in the context of those times.

Most of us have stumbled upon romantic images of Vikings as ancient Nordic heroes. Unfortunately the majority of these depictions are flawed. The best example would be the wide spread idea of tall males wearing helmets with horns and sitting in dragon-headed ships. As a matter of fact the Vikings never wore helmets with horns, their males were 165 cm tall and females 154 cm tall. The majority of the Vikings were peaceful farmers, just a small portion were active in seafaring, trading and raids. The Scandinavian Viking Era and the corresponding time period in the Baltics – younger Iron Age – have been less available to the wider audience due to limitations set by the Soviet Rule regarding depictions of prehistory.

The unfamiliar articles found from Estonia, especially Saaremaa, the ports and fortresses one finds there are a sign of a society that was same level with the organised neighbouring countries and where seafaring and trade – obviously also piracy – played an important role. There is no depiction of Scandinavian journeys to the East without paying any attention to ancient inhabitants of Saaremaa, Courland and other east coast Baltic Sea inhabitants. Using the notion “Viking” in the broader sense we can with great certainty speak also about Estonian Vikings.

Viking raids
The Vikings traveled, traded and raided all over Europe, reaching in the East to Baghdad and in the West even to America. Iceland was discovered in the year 870 and Greenland in the year 985. The Viking Leif Eriksson was probably the first European to set his foot on American soil in Newfoundland, today’s Canadian territory, and did that already back in the year 1001.

The conditional start time of the Viking Era is taken to be 793 when the warriors, unexpectedly arriving from the North, raided Lidisfarne monastery on an island on the north-eastern coast of England. Such wickedness was a shock to the entire Christian world. Still the raids organised by northern pagans remained not the last, instead for a few centuries these activities became a horrible reality in Western Europe.

The Vikings navigated the long European rivers Rhine, Seine and Loire – as far as Paris. On Easter 845 Paris was raided; the unwelcome guests would leave after king Charles of France paid the Vikings 3150 kg of silver. On top of that the Viking leader Ragnar took as a souvenir a piece of the town gate. Probably to the comfort of the citizens – Ragnar as well as most of his men died of unexpected circumstances on their way back home.

The Vikings started to spend the winter in places they raided and the conquerings would thus extend to many years sometimes. Still a few more years and the Vikings that had stayed in Normandy and Northern England, blended in with the local people and took over the local language.

Vikings on the Eastern roads
The Eastern Vikings, also known as the Varangians, sailed over the Baltic Sea as well as along the long Russian rivers towards southern lands. The destination of many of the journeys of those times were the richest countries of the world they lived in – the Byzantine Empire’s capital city Constantinople (current Istanbul) and the Arab Caliphate’s capital city Baghdad, yet the Vikings also reached Jerusalem and even further. The Byzantine emperor’s security team was made up of Vikings, still it has to be emphasized that among the names of those men that have survived until our times there are also many Finno-Ugric and Baltic names.

According to preserved tradition and the Russian Letopis Chronicles the Varangians mainly stemming from today’s Sweden founded in the year 862 the Old Russian Empire. In North-Western Russia their main centre was Novgorod, Old Ladoga and Izborsk. The existence of the Viking upper class in these settlements as well as around Kyiv is supported by the many Scandinavian style burials.

Apparently the trade channels leading to the Orient were administered by Baltc Finns and the Baltic nations. This was the so-called East Road, Austervegr, though which the Eastern spices and silver poured in to Europe, and back to the Eastern countries the European fur, wax and slaves.

Three routes sprang from the Baltics, that through the Russian rivers connected the East and West. The first of them reached from central Sweden to the Aland Islands, from there along the coast to today’s Helsinki and went on along the Finnish coast to Ladoga. The second route sprang from Saaremaa, went up along Pänu River and River Emajõgi, through smaller water bodies until Lake Peipsi and from there to on Russia. The rich findings of treasures and oldest towns of Estonia on this road speak of its highest importance among the three routes. The third route went along Väina River to Russia.

Estonia in the Viking times
Although the Vikings founded their colony settlements to the territories of today’s Russia and Finland’s west and east coast, they weren’t successful in settling in the Baltics. Nevertheless the majority of important trade routes ran along the coast and rivers here. Probably the reason for this is that in the Scandinavian chronicles describe the activity of the men on the eastern route that never let the Swedish Vikings settle in with their trade centres here. The seafarers in Saaremaa and Courland turned out dangerous for the little countries that emerged in Scandinavia in the 11th and 12th centuries, often romantically referred to as the Estonian (resp Latvian) Viking Era.

The clearest evidence about the treasures pouring through Estonia is the silver buried in the ground, the abundance of which is comparable only to Gotland in the Baltic Sea region. All of the archaelogical findings here refers to strong connection to Swedish Vikings as well as Russian Varangians.

Evidence of ancient Estonians as full feathered members of the Viking world are traced from plenty of burial findings. Of course, with jewellery and weapons only the richest members of the society were buried, as well as the leaders of regions and villages and their families. The weapons and jewellery that were burnt together with the deceased, were sometimes of Scandinavian origin or prepared on the spot after the patterns from there. Most international have been the weapons, which is understandable, since in war one would need to remain on the same level as the neighbour. Also men’s accessories and probably also clothing were in Estonia quite similar to those in the Nordics. This refers to the shared world view – an understanding about what is suitable for a wealthy warrior regarding weapons and accessories was similar on the eastern as well as the western coast of the Baltic Sea.

Vikings – the rulers of the world
The Vikings were skilled and brave seafarers. With their long wooden ships they also sailed across the stormy ocean. On sea the Viking boat mainly moved with the help of a big rectangular sail, close to the shore and also on rivers the mast was lowered and men started rowing. Whenever possible, the Vikings sailed close to the shore in seeing distance and in daylight. When crossing the ocean they used the Sun and stars for navigation. To find the right direction, they carefully paid attention to the wind, seabirds, and the character of the waves.

The best preserved Viking boats have been found in the rich Viking captains burials, the best known to name a few are Oseberg and Gokstad ships in Norway. Although the wood has decayed in these cases as well, the boat structure can be restored based on the preserved iron parts. A lot of pictures depicting drakar ships have preserved.

Nowadays enthusiasts from Scandinavian countries have rebuilt many Viking boats and have even traveled with these on the original Viking raid routes.

When will the Estonian own Viking boat be discovered?
This is the question that has excited everbody around here that has done research on ancient times. It is known to archaeologists that during the Viking Era the dead were burnt sometimes in the boat, as in Scandinavia, but non-burnt ships have not been found from Estonian burials. Who knows, maybe there is a shipwrecked Viking boat waiting to be found by someone near the shore or perhaps today already on the mainland. The ground has risen during the last couple thousand years so significantly that in several Viking Era harbors people today cultivate the field.

The chronicle writer Henry of Latvia has mentioned that Estonians used to have two types of boats – piratica and liburna. The first of these was a war boat, the other was mostly a trade boat. The war boat accommodated ca 30 men, it had a tall bow, probably dragon or snake shaped, and a rectangular sail. The boats of Estonian Vikings were thus similar to the Scandinavian ones, there were however obviously some differences in the building details.

The oldest wrecked ships found from Estonian waters originate from the 13th and 14th centuries and these have been discovered in Pärnu and in Saaremaa Mailinn town. From Riga a wrecked ship from the 12th or 13th century has been discovered, and according to the Latvian experts it might have been built in Courland or Saaremaa.

In Estonia, the underwater archaeologist Vello Mäss has done research on boats and shipping, lately he has authored and published a book on that topic. Illustrations and details from that book have been used in the current overview as well.

Vikings as warriors
Individual courage was a feature most valued by the Vikings. The warriors had to be ready to follow their captain or king to battle, raid or trade journey at any time. It was only in war that one could gain eternal glory and it was everybody’s dream to fall in battle, armed. The warriors that died in that manner were expected to proceed to Valhalla, where they could for ever do the things most pleasant for them: eat, drink, celebrate and fight in battle.

Estonian Vikings in Scandinavian sagas
Estonians as well as Estonian seafarers have been mentioned in the Scandinavian sagas as well as other written sources several times. Oftentimes it is the vague “Eastern route men”, that included also Estonians, mostly men from Saaremaa, and Courland men. Estonia or its various parts have been mentioned on many runestones, announcing the stay or the local death of a memorable person.

According to a Snorri Sturlusoni saga the King of Sweden Erik had organized in the years 850-860 many raids to the Eastern shores of the Baltics, including Estonia, conquering these territories.

In the year 967 the then 3-year-old King of Norway Olav Trygvesson traveled with his mother Estrid together with merchants to Novgorod to Estrid’s brother Sigurd, when they were attacked by pirates. Olav ended up being separated from his mother and was sold together with two mates, Torulfi and Torgils, to a cruel Estonian named Klerkon, who put Torulfi to death because of him being weak. Olav and Torgils in turn were traded for a good goat.

The new owner of the boys Klerk sold them again to a family of generous Estonians, to master Reas and mistress Rekon. Olav grew up in Estonia and was set free six years later when his uncle noticed him by chance at the market and bought him and Torgils back. Mother Estrid was set free still some years later.

Njalli saga songs mention a sea battle between Icelandic Vikings and Estonians somewhere near Saaremaa in the year 972. The writer referred to Estonians as the Estonian Vikings and their boats as warboats.

The Varangian Ulf (Uleb) coming from Novgorod was destroyed according to Novgorodian chronicles apparently at a sea battle near today’s Tallinn near the Iron Gate.

According to the chronicler Saxo Grammaticus the Courland men and Saaremaa men raided the Danish territory in 1170. Estonian pirates were probably among the “Eastern route men” that destroyed Central Sweden’s capital Sigtuna. Henry of Latvia repeatedly described raids to Scandinavia led by men from Saaremaa in the beginning of the 13th century, as well as the sea battles with men from Saaremaa on the Eastern shore of the Baltic Sea.

Fortresses
When comparing the anciend cultural landscape of the Eastern and Western coast of the Baltic Sea, it strikes us that there is an abundance of fortresses on the Eastern coast. This tendency can be observed already back in the Bronze Age, yet only in the Viking Era the number of fortresses becomes especially outstanding. In the Viking Era the parishes emerged that in later times were functioning as administrative and ecclesiastical territorial units. In the parish centres, later near the church, the fortresses can be found. The fortresses were the centres for centralised power and served as the residence of the local well-off nobleman.

The fortresses became especially strong in the 11th century when some of the earlier fortresses were abandoned and new fortresses were built near them. Just like some other phenomena, this was a feature that indicated important socio-political changes in Estonia in those days; probably greater segregation and the centralization of power.

During archaeological excavations it has become clear that the fortresses were constantly in use. In one of Estonia’s largest fortresses, Varbola, the remains of more than 70 buildings have been found. The houses were built from cross beams, in the corner was the stove. The houses of noblemen have not been distinguished from among other buildings since the fortresses have been only partly examined.

Clothing in the Viking Era
The clothes of Estonian men during the Viking times strongly resembles the Scandinavian clothing of those times, there is especially significant similarity with Gotland’s and Central Sweden’s Vikings. The complete outfit included woollen pants, long linen or woollen shirt and cloak extending to the knees. The collar and the edges of the cloak or the coat were often decorated with bronze spirals.

Belts, as well as sword belts were decorated with bronze nails. The belt always included a bronze lining sheath with the knife.

Different from the Scandinavian Vikings the Estonian men used to wear rather many rings on their fingers, also bracelets. While the Baltic warriors had special war bracelets then Estonian men mostly wore the same type of bracelets as women (only the spiral bracelets and the Saaremaa type bracelets never occur in male burials).

In the earlier times of the Viking Era men used to fasten their cloaks with ring head jewellery needles. In the 10th century the brooches became only a male type jewellery and men began to fasten their coats and shirts with horse shoe shaped pins.

There is little information about male headgear. In the Livonian burials there are sometimes hats with leather and cloth decorations with bronze spirals.

Armory of the Vikings
Most of the Viking Era arms that have been found in Estonia represent an international variety of weapons. Still it is possible to bring out some characteristic features. Fully preserved swords have rarely been found in Estonian burials, mostly they are fragments of the sword handle. All the swords though that have been found represent the type mostly common in Scandinavia.

Most frequently spear heads can be found in the burials, the types of which greatly vary from the very luxurious imported articles to plain local production. Oftentimes the throwing spear and stabbing spear heads are found together. An abundance of throwing spear heads have been found from Estonia. In some burials hatchets have been found.

Henry of Latvia speaks of marching troops armed with spears and mentions throwing spears that came with special equipment for throwing them. From many burials archaeologists have found equipment of cavalry. It is obvious that the noblemen fought in battle on horseback with swords and infantry used throwing and stabbing spears.

The findings from burials can mostly vaguely be connected to the common usage of weapons. Often spear heads are found near the burials, sometimes also remains of shield cups, these have probably been cast there during some kind of a ritual held within the funeral procedure or after it. Apparently the addition of the shield in the burial wasn’t common. Arrow heads are rare, but in Livonian burials there are often remains of shields as well as arrow sheaths.

Arms, especially the sword, are glorified in many Scandinavian sagas, the best of them were even named. Good arms, like damask covered sword blades and spear heads were very expensive. The most luxurious arms were decorated with silver wire or thin layer of silver or gold, with complex engraved ornaments.

Women’s clothes
Like in the neighbouring countries the clothing of women in Estonia included linen shirt (woollen in winter), covered by woollen tunic without sleeves. In Southern Estonia were the influence of Latgales was greater, instead on the tunic dress-coat a rug shirt was common.

For festive occasions and during colder periods women used to wear manyfold woollen rugs that were decorated on the edges with woven horsehair and sewn-in bronze spirals and colourful ribbons. The rugs were wrapped around the shoulders and held together with horse shoe shaped brooches.

The abundance of bronze spirals in the Viking Era female burials is significant. The spirals were decorating the shirts, the rugs, the headscarfs. The embroidery has not preserved.

A leather or woven belt was worn around the waist. Leather belts were decorated with bronze pins and a keychain along with a knife sheath was attached to the belt, decorated with a bronze layer. The belt had historically been among the most important components also in a magical context. It was believed that the belt had magic powers that safeguarded the owner; older verse describes maidens weaving belts (a motive symbolizing the thread of life). The belt was frequently worn also during the night, even expecting girls had to wear a belt (it kept them safe from the evil eye).

Headgear decorated with bronze spirals and scarfs with bronze patterns were common all around Estonia. It was required that wed wives not left the house with their heads uncovered, this was already common in the Viking Era (there was a similar tradition in Scandinavia). This requirement has been associated with the necessity to distinguish the woman with a symbol of marital status as well as with the belief widely spread in pre-industial society, that the hair of women sexually related to a male possessed power and that these powers were to be controlled (i.e. the hair was to be cut or hidden).

The most significant adornment that women in the 11th century Estonia wore, was certainly the bosom decoration that was composed of chains, pins and the holders.The lenght and number of the chest jewellery depended on the wealth of the owner, but most of the Viking Era female burials include at least some fragments of the chest jewellery. In the early Viking times the pins were rather modest; from the 10th century on the pins bacame bigger and the chains longer and heavier. Pendants and bells were often attached to the chains.

Wealthier women had many neckrings simultaneously as well as up to ten bracelets. The Viking time Estonia was rich in several types of bracelets, just the spiral bracelet was common all over the country. Rings were also of many types, worn by women as well as men. The typology of brooches is also versatile; brooches were used for holding together the rug and shirt neck.

Women’s adornments can roughly be divided in two: Saaremaa and Läänemaa regions as opposed to Eastern Estonian adornments. In Saaremaa and Läänemaa in the Western part there were various trianguar chest pins and a certain type of bracelets and neck rings. In Eastern Estonia chest jewellery was not used at all in earlier Viking times, therefore it can be concluded that instead of the tunic held by brooches the Eastern women wore rug skirts. Eastern Estonian type of adornments (with cross-head) became wide spread only in the 11th century. The variety of bracelets and neck rings is larger in Eastern Estonia than in Läänemaa.

Women and children of Vikings
In the Middle Ages the Viking women had more autonomy than their sisters in Europe. The woman ran the household and directed the domestic arrangements, especially when men were away for the long journeys. The female type and male type responsibilities were strictly separated in those times and the border was well established. Although in the Scandinavian legends one can find the valkyries, the female warriors, no trace of actual data about the existence of female warriors has been confirmed.

Differently from the Scandinavian tradition, on the Eastern coast of the Baltic Sea there are occasionally female burials with arms, either as tools or symbols of their status. The knife in the sheath with plenty of bronze decorations intimately belonged to the festive gown of Estonian women.

Every Viking woman spent the day spinning with the spindle. It was enormous effort to produce thread from the wool or cotton, that thereafter was woven to cloth on vertical looms. On images that have been preserved until our times, the women of the Viking Era are oftentimes holding a spindle.

Equally many female and male burials are known from the Viking times. At first glance there seem to be more of the wealthy female burials, but this is because women wore more adornments.

It is generally believed that the burial traditions reflect the beliefs and the worldview of the society. Rich contributions in burials in the Viking times in female burials refer to the important role of women in their society, the status was a sum of the woman’s as well as the husband’s position in the society.

Bone material that has poorly preserved due to burning won’t allow determining the age of the deceased and thus it is difficult to say whether it was the maidens or the wed wives with the most contributions (in other words: if it was the parents or the husband more important in the society). In later period of younger Iron Age the maiden’s burials are more modest as compared to those of wives.

From some of the female burials in Saaremaa weights have been found. Similar burials are also in Scandinavia. Some scientist interpret this as the reference to women’s inclusion in trade, some only relate these to status. Probably women had more roles tp play than just running the household, since men were most of the time away from home in battle and trading.

The Arab traveller, visiting Hedeby town in Southern Scandinavia around 950 A.D., wrote of women there that loved to accentuate the beauty of their eyes with dark shades defining the eye. The same was observed in many Viking men. Also adornments were worn by men and women equally.

The Viking people had many children, but more than half of the children died in early age. It has been estimated that just three out of ten babies lived to their first birthday.
Also the mean age of women was less than in men, since many of the young women died while giving birth.

The Viking kids grew at home, where they learned to work by observing their parents and fellows. In Scandinavia, but perhaps also in Estonia it was common to give sons of elders to be a foster child in another elder’s family for some time.

At an early age boys began learning how to use arms, in the beginning these were wooden arms and later actual arms. From burials of young boys miniature copies of actual arms have been found.

When the Vikings stayed in foreign land for a longer period, they brought their wives and children along. This was how the Scandinavian colonies were formed, the members of these blended with the local people after a few generations.

Read also:
Stockholm´s museums: The Viking Museum – tourist info, guides, pictures
NordenBladet – For those, who are interested in Norse mythology and wish to experience the Viking age, I recommend to visit The Viking Museum in Djurgårdsvägen 48, 115 21 Stockholm. In the exhibition, several guided tours are held daily in Swedish and English. Audioguide and adventure ride is available in English, Russian, Finnish, Italian, French, Spanish German, Chinese and Swedish.

Viking is ‘forefather to British royals’? Norwegian-French investigation hopes to reveal that Norwegian Viking noble Ganger Hrólf was the same person as Rollo, the first Duke of Normandy
NordenBladet – A joint Norwegian-French investigation hopes to reveal that Norwegian Viking noble Ganger Hrólf was the same person as Rollo, the first Duke of Normandy – and the forefather of the British royal family.

Faroe Islands – WONDERFUL TRAVEL DESTINATION for bird watchers and photography fans

NordenBladet – In the midst of the stormy flow of the Atlantic Ocean there is the Faroe Archipelago consisting of 18 islands. The total area of the archipelago is 1 399 km2. The largest island is Streymoy, where the capital Tórshavn is located with its beautiful colourful houses. The second largest municipality (commune) is Klaksvík.

Faroe Islands, with their uniqueness and beauty, isolation and unaproachability are a dream destination for many, especially for those travellers keen on birds and photography. Faroe Islands is a stop for approximately 3.5 million birds from over 300 species and this makes it the bird watchers paradise.

What to do to see the most? We recommend renting a car. While there are reindeer walking on the roads in Lapland, there are sheep roaming the Faroe Islands. They are everywhere and please remember that you are the guests, not them. Give them way and drive slow. Before starting off it is good to know that driving through tunnels you must pay the fee (more info can be found on the page tunnil.fo). In some places you must also pay for hiking, since the sightseeing are on private property. The prices can be really high at some places, yet this is worth while (find more info here: hiking.fo).

Although the main feature of the Nordic countries are crisp and mystical spruce forests, you won’t find these from Faroe Islands. There are no woods on the islands and all trees have been planted; the natural ground – thick basalt and thin soil will not let the trees take roots at any price. When the Faroese wish to see trees they go to Kunoy island and Kunoy park. The lack of trees is also the reason why the Faroese have no native musical instrument and all the main ancient commodities, tools and decorations are somehow produced from whale, fish or sheep bones. However, the lack of a musical instrument is compensated by the Faroese circle dance that is being performed at every folk party and gathering. The rhythm given with feet and the special combination of steps have remained unchanged for centuries. The circle dance really is the Faroese “folk instrument”.

The Faroese are used to stay together, consume just the essential and get through with the minimum – starting from food and ending with heating material – there has been a deficit for centuries and that is why the word they use as characteristic to them is “struggle”. But the Faroese are not poor – there is plenty of “white gold” or sheep wool! The sheep also give milk and meat besides wool and the islands have been named after them – the Islands of Sheep.

The climate on Faroe Islands is verstile and it is reasonable to pack the raincoat, warm cardigan, T-shirt and sunglasses in your travel bag, since you might need all of them many times during the same day! The extremely harsh natural conditions and isolation from the rest of the world have turned the Faroese into harmonious and caring people. The population of Faroes Island is over 48 thousand people. Due to the great sparseness of the population there are 30 communes.



Photos: 2x Pexels

Good to know:
– The closest inhabited point near the Faroe Islands are the Shetland Islands 300 kilometres away. Iceland is 450 km away, Norway is 675 km away and Copenhagen is 1500 km away. The distance between the northernmost point and the southernmost point is 113 kilometres, the greatest distance from East to West is 75 kilometres. The islnds are volcanic, the highest point Sættaratindur is 882metres from sea level and are situated on the Eysturoy island.

– About 6% of the land can be cultivated, the rest is used for raising 70 000 sheep.

– The currency on Faroe Islands is the Danish krone, but the Faroese krona in the same value with different markings is simultaneously in use. There are cash machines on Faroe Islands and you can take out cash, but certainly it is more convenient to change some money beforehand for the first expenditures.

– Faroe Islands have their own flag, banknotes and passports. The Faroese language is recognized as an official language, yet Danish can be used in all official procedures and classes at school are also held in Danish.






Photos: NordenBladet