Great opportunities for adventure activities during the conference for Winter Tourism 2005 in Svalbard - Norway!

The travel industry on the North Kalott ("Nordkalotten" - northern part of Norway) has for a long time been eager exploits the opportunities the winter climate gives. In January next year the winter cities are going to meet to show that many cities in the winter season are great tourist attractions.

We wish to create a meeting place where companies in the travel industry can get new ideas and collect experiences from many practical cases where others have succeeded, says the Manager of WCE Secretariat Svein Kristiansen in the organisation Winter Cities Europe.

Svalbard is a natural place for an international conference in January 2005. Local supporters are Longyearbyen Lokalstyre, Svalbard Samfunnsdrift AS, Svalbard Reiseliv AS, Reiselivsbedriftenes Landsforening.

Photo. Longyearbyen - the main city on Svalbard. © Stian Jørgensen og Trym Ivar Bergsmo, Norway. During the arrangement it will be 15 presentations from Norway, Sweden, Finland (Soumi) and Japan.

The speakers are going to contribute with their experiences within areas as winter extreme sport, northern light tourism, dog sledging, infrastructure for winter sport, snow- and ice festivals, and promotion of winter activities.

Sapporo in Japan will present the world's biggest winter festival with 2 million visitors, but also Kiruna has much to contribute with after several years with local celebration of the winter.

Various activities for real adventours
There are a great number of small winter festivals in all countries with winter climate. Activities in one of the world's last frontiers For they who join this conference, will be able to participate in several great activities on Svalbard:

• Cave tours under the Longyear glacier
• Visiting to a coal mine
• Hiking in the polar night
• Polar Night Safaris - a (snowmobile) light in the dark
• Dog sledding excursions
• Visiting Russian and Ukrainian neighbours
• Cultural and historic Sightseeing
• Tent-tours deep in the polar nights

According to the website Svalbard Net, you can experience on Svalbard a new universe in the ice caves under the glaciers, you can strengthen employees' team spirit with a visit to a coal mine, you can enjoy the spectacular landscape by taking a trip led by dog-teams or by snowmobile or visit Norway`s Russian and Ukrainian neighbours in Barentsburg.

You can enjoy the spectacular landscape by taking a trip led by dog-teams. Photo. Dog sledging for they who want real action! Hold tight! © Stian Jørgensen og Trym Ivar Bergsmo, Norway.

A tent-tour deep in the polar night will definitely be an adventure to write home about, or just relax and enjoy a bit of wine tasting in the world's northernmost wine cellar. Activity providers in Longyearbyen tailor-make programmes for groups for holiday, meetings, courses, conferences and incentive trips.

Polar Bears
When you go to Svalbard, you should be aware of that Polar bears are completely protected on Svalbard and must not in any way be approached or disturbed. Keep a safe distance from any bears you may come across, as they are very quick and are known to attack suddenly without warning.

Photo. Hungry Polar Bears looking for food. © Stian Jørgensen og Trym Ivar Bergsmo, Norway. Don`t worry. They only eat you once!  Use caution and avoid all contact. Do not pitch tents where polar bears usually travel. Always set out tripwire warning flares around campsites.

Polar bears get quickly overheated when being chased so you must never follow a polar bear by snowmobile or by boat. Never feed a polar bear. At campsites, all food, garbage and toilet waste must be kept at least 100 metres from your sleeping tents and in a way so that it can be seen from the tent opening.

Pack ice and glaciers
Travelling on pack- ice and glaciers involves risks. If you go on a glacier you should go with a guide or at least go in a group so that all the participants are connected by a safety- rope. Remember to bring crampons (ice spurs) and an ice-axe.

Photo. Hiorthamnfjell (mountain) in blue light. © Stian Jørgensen og Trym Ivar Bergsmo, Norway. The unique nature on Svalbard gives unforgettable memories.

For your own security and for a more enriching experience, it's recommended to take tours with guides familiar with the local environment. Take an exciting snowmobile safari into the Polar Night. It's not necessary to travel far from Longyearbyen to reach the Arctic Wilderness.

As its stand on Svalbard Net`s website: "It's always dark at this time of year, but there is always a glimmer of light from the stars, or the moon, on the white snow that blankets the terrain". The beautiful nature on Svalbard it's something for itself. All the great opportunities for activities there will really turn you on. So why not get a unique adventure in one of the world's last frontiers in Norway?

Stein Morten Lund, 25 October 2004

Additional information
All photos displayed in this article are taken by Stian Jørgensen og Trym Ivar Bergsmo, Norway (Photo Copyright).

For more information about the Conference on Svalbard: www.wts2005.com

Facts about Svalbard (referred from Svalbard Net):
Location: Group of islands between 74° - 81° N and 10° - 35° E
Area: 63 000 sq.km.; 60% covered by glacier Largest islands Spitsbergen, Nordaustlandet, Barentsøya, Edgeøya and Prins Karls Forland
Settlements Longyearbyen (Norwegian administrative centre): 1,700 inhabitants Barentsburg (Russian mining community): 900 inhabitants Ny-Ålesund (Norw. international research centre): 40 inhabitants Sveagruva (Norwegian mining community): 210 commuters Hornsund (Polish research station): 8 inhabitants
Administration: Norwegian sovereignty, regulated by the Svalbard Treaty of 1920
Transportation: By plane from/to Oslo and Tromsø, Norway. There are no roads connecting the communities on Svalbard.

Tourist information about Norway`s last frontier Svalbard - Svalbard Net: www.svalbard.net

Other link related to Svalbard:
Norwegian Polar Institute - Norsk Polarinstitutt: www.npolar.no
Sysselmannen på Svalbard: www.sysselmannen.svalbard.no
Weather Forcasting (Værvarsel for Svalbard): met.no

Informasjon på norsk:
Referert fra Reiseliv - www.Reiseliv.no): Reiselivsnæringen på Nordkalotten har lenge vært opptatt av å utnytte mulighetene vinterklimaet skaper. I januar skal vinterbyene møtes på Svalbard for å vise at mange byer i vinterdrakt er flotte turistattraksjoner.

Internasjonalt snitt - 15 foredragsholdere fra Norge, Sverige, Finland og Japan skal bidra med sin erfaring innenfor områder som vinterlig ekstremsport, nordlysturisme, hundekjøring, vintersportanlegg, snø- og isfestivaler og markedsføring av vinteraktiviteter.

Sapporo i Japan vil presentere verdens største vinterfestival med to million besøkende, mens Kiruna kanskje har like mye å tilføre gjennom sin mangeårige lokale feiring av vinteren. Det finnes et stort antall små lokale vinterfestivaler i alle land med vinterklima.

Vi ønsker å skape en møteplass der aktørene i næringen skal få nye ideer og praktiske eksempler på at mange har lyktes, forteller sekretariatsleder Svein Kristiansen i Winter Cities Europa. Svalbard er et naturlig sted for en internasjonal konferanse i januar 2005.

OBS! For de som vil delta er det noen få Early Bird discount-billetter igjen! Et begrenset antall rabatterte billetter er nå ute for salg. Dette gir en rabatt på NOK 860,- for reisende fra Oslo og NOK 550,- fra Tromsø.