Bismarck Tribune - North Dakota News - North Dakota fifth most-popular destination for Norwegians

North Dakota fifth most-popular destination for Norwegians

Jul 11, 2004 - 00:20:15 CDT

By the Associated Press

GRAND FORKS (AP) -- When Norwegians pack their bags, there's a good chance they are heading to North Dakota, tourism officials say.

The state's tourism division is trumpeting two travel surveys that name North Dakota the fifth most-popular destination for vacationing Norwegians.

Fred Walker, North Dakota's international marketing director, said the polls show the state's efforts to advertise overseas are paying off.

"The hard work that has gone on for many years, it's nice to see that it's working," he said.

The surveys, by national Norwegian newspaper Dagbladet and travel industry magazine Standby, rated North Dakota fifth for the amount of air travel and rental car sales to Norwegians this year.

The newspaper survey ranked Florida, California, Washington, D.C., and Minnesota as the top four destinations.

Char Brekke, owner of Brekke Tours and Travel in Grand Forks, said she sees plenty of Scandinavian travelers. The biggest selling point for Norwegians is the friendly treatment they get from North Dakotans, she said.

"Norwegians are interested in meeting the people here who have ties to Norway," Brekke said. "They enjoy meeting people who can speak Norwegian."

Part of the attraction is a strong national identity in the state -- about 40 percent of North Dakotans report some Norwegian heritage, Walker said.

"It seems somehow or some way they get invited to someone's home for dinner," he said. "As soon as you find someone from Norway, they'll try to find out if you know their family in Oslo."

Minot's annual Norsk Hostfest is a big draw, and the Heritage Hjemkomst Center in Moorhead, Minn., attracts Norwegians who want to trace their heritage, Walker said.

The state's outdoors also seem popular with visitors from Norway.

"They like the wide open spaces and the big farm fields," Walker said. "And they love to be a cowboy and visit the Badlands."

North Dakota's tourism division has tried to capitalize on the state's European heritage by focusing international marketing in Scandinavian countries and Germany, he said.

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Comments

shawn hoffman wrote on Mar 7, 2007 5:35 PM:

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Stel wrote on Jun 24, 2006 9:25 PM:

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john wrote on Jun 24, 2006 6:32 PM:

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