Preikestolen, one of Norway’s most iconic natural attractions, attracts thousands of visitors from all over the world every year. In the summer of 2022, 348,000 people made the trip to this stunning mountain plateau. These visitors had a significant economic impact on the region, with a total spending of NOK 1 billion during June, July and August.
The Preikestolen Foundation conducts in-depth annual guest surveys, which give us valuable insight into the profiles of visitors. The average age is 34 years, and most are European. There are about equal numbers of men and women, and guests usually travel with a group. They mainly come to Preikestolen by car, rental car or camper van and spend an average of three days in Ryfylke/Nord Jæren, with accommodation in the Stavanger area before and after their visit.
It is also worth noting that 36% of guests visit or plan to visit other parts of the Lysefjord, and a full 91% are satisfied or very satisfied with the experience after their trip to Preikestolen.
In terms of consumption, figures from Innovation Norway show that Norwegian tourists spent an average of 990 kroner per day, while foreign visitors spent 1240 kroner per day in 2019. By combining this with the number of visitors and their average days of stay, we can estimate that Preikestolen traffic generated over 1 billion kroner in consumption in Rogaland during the summer months of 2022.
The economic significance of Preikestolen’s attraction is thus clear. The income has positive ripple effects for hotels, restaurants, transport services and local businesses, and this helps to strengthen the region’s economy. With Preikestolen as a pillar of tourism in Ryfylke and Nord Jæren, it is clear that this natural icon plays an important role in promoting economic growth in the area.
