A new economic impact study, referred to as the ‘Ripple Report’, has highlighted how Hurtigruten’s iconic Norwegian coastal voyages significantly strengthen the local economy in the communities they visit, proving that cruise tourism can be a key driver in Norway if local value creation is prioritised and sustainably managed.

The study by Menon Economics found that Hurtigruten and its guests generates NOK 2.6 billion (equal to around €219 million, £192 million, $257 million, A$398 million) in value creation annually through purchases of goods and services along Norway’s coast. In 2024, nearly 200,000 guests travelled with Hurtigruten, generating 684,000 guest nights, which in turn supported over 4,000 jobs.

Hurtigruten has long been part of Norway’s national infrastructure, providing year-round sailings for local travellers, cargo, and international tourists since 1893. While many destinations are restricting visitor numbers or limiting cruise arrivals, Hurtigruten’s smaller ships, each carrying around 500 passengers, distribute travellers across 34 coastal ports – some with only a few hundred residents. This approach ensures tourism revenue flows directly to local suppliers, shops, and services, rather than concentrating in a few hotspots.

“Tourism should be more than sightseeing. It must create value, jobs, and a positive impact on the communities it touches,” said Hedda Felin, CEO of Hurtigruten. “For over 130 years, Hurtigruten has been a lifeline along Norway’s coast, connecting people, goods, and cultures. Around the world, we’re seeing an ever-growing demand for tourism that actively protects the destinations travellers come to experience. Our carefully managed approach shows how travel, and especially the cruise industry, can truly support local communities instead of straining or overwhelming them. By involving these communities at every step, tourism becomes a genuine force for good – and the example we’re setting here in Norway can inspire change across our entire industry.”

Key figures from 2024

• 200,000 guests generating 684,000 guest nights
• 208,000 excursions sold in Northern Norway across 70 experiences, delivered in partnership with 65 local operators
• 4,010 direct and indirect jobs supported nationwide
• 70 local food and drink suppliers providing over three million onboard meals
• 47,000 cargo shipments transported between Bergen and Kirkenes

In Kjøllefjord, a small fishing village of about 1,000 residents on the Nordkinn Peninsula, entrepreneur Jan Olav Evensen started offering snowmobile tours and Sámi cultural experiences 18 years ago. Through close cooperation with Hurtigruten, his company Arctic Coast has flourished, becoming part of Norway’s adventure tourism growth.

“Hurtigruten is the backbone of our operations. We started from zero eighteen years ago, and the predictability of the agreement with Hurtigruten allows us to build other activities with tour operators in new markets. In an industry that is often seasonal, this partnership has created year-round jobs in local tourism. That’s incredibly important in a fishing village with so few residents,” says Evensen.

Earlier this year, Hurtigruten announced their ‘Open Village’ experienceswould be expanding across their whole Signature fleet from 2026. The experiences offer exclusive, community-led visits to the remote villages of Træna, Bessaker, and Sæbø between May and September – immersing guests in local traditions, homemade cuisine, and cultural activities at no extra cost. As part of the initiative, Hurtigruten contributes NOK 250 (around £18/€20) per guest to each village, directly supporting over a dozen local businesses and helping preserve community life.