New bus route strengthens travel between Kiruna and Narvik

A new bus connection between Kiruna and Narvik makes it easier for visitors to travel across the border between Sweden and Norway. For the visitor economy in Arctic Sweden, this means improved accessibility and new opportunities to develop cross-border travel experiences.

Best Arctic and Kiruna Buss are now launching a partnership that makes it possible to travel by bus between Kiruna and Narvik. The new connection links two important Arctic destinations and makes it easier for visitors to combine experiences in both Sweden and Norway on the same trip.

For Norrbotten’s visitor economy, accessibility is a crucial issue for the future. Distances are long, many visitors travel without their own car, and the ability to get between different places affects both the choice of destination and how long visitors stay in the region.

“Making it easier to travel between Kiruna and Narvik is positive for the entire cross-border destination. Our visitors don’t move according to national borders, but according to experiences, seasons and the journey they want to make. That’s why better connections between places in Arctic Sweden and our neighbouring regions are important both for the visitor and for businesses in the visitor economy,” says Annika Fredriksson, CEO of Arctic Sweden Visitors Board.

The new route is part of Arctic Route, a transport network that since 2016 has been developing connections between Arctic destinations in northern Norway and nearby regions. Through partnerships with regional transport operators, destinations and experience companies, the initiative aims to make it easier to travel between places that can otherwise be difficult to reach without a car.

“We are excited to announce the launch of our partnership between Best Arctic and Kiruna Buss.
The Kiruna–Narvik bus connection is now open, making it easier than ever to travel across the Arctic. This new route marks the beginning of an exciting cross-border collaboration between Sweden and Norway, connecting destinations, experiences, and people,” says Trond Arne Kongsli, CEO of Best Arctic Group.

For the visitor economy, improved transport links also mean better conditions for cross-border collaboration. When it becomes easier to travel onwards, more destinations can be included in the same trip, more businesses can become part of the visitor’s experience, and the region’s Arctic offering can be strengthened as a whole.

The new bus connection is a partial result of the Visit Arctic Europe collaboration platform, run by Arctic Sweden Visitors Board, Northern Norway Tourism Board and Finnish Lapland Tourism Board, and provides a practical example of how regional partnerships can contribute to a more cohesive and accessible Arctic destination, where Sweden, Norway and Finland can be more closely connected through sustainable and practical transport solutions.