As the festive season approaches, a series of amusing travel mix-ups have surfaced, reminiscent of the iconic scenes in Home Alone 2: Lost in New York, where characters end up in the wrong places at the wrong time. A recent YouGov survey, commissioned by Visit Sweden, reveals that many travellers find themselves in the wrong destination, offering both a cautionary tale and a laugh for holidaymakers planning their festive trips.
The survey found that 8% of respondents had accidentally ended up at the wrong destination while travelling. With Sweden being a popular travel dream for around 80 million people, nearly 8 million of those could find themselves in a different, yet similarly named, destination—leading to a bit of confusion. In light of this, Sweden has taken steps to ensure tourists know exactly where they’re going, with a bid to trademark the name “Sweden” across Europe.
Unintended Detours: Real-Life Travel Mishaps
The survey revealed some memorable stories of travellers unintentionally finding themselves in entirely different parts of the world:
- Kiruna… With a Twist! One traveller, keen to experience Lapland’s snowy northern lights, ended up in tropical Kiruna, Uganda, instead. This meant swapping reindeer for savannahs and snow for sunshine—quite the switch!
- Venice Dreams, Vännäs Reality: A couple hoping to see Venice’s iconic canals mistakenly took a train to Vännäs, a small town near Umeå, Sweden. While gondolas were a no-go, the couple was warmly welcomed by a local who helped guide them. “We loved every minute of it,” they said. “We’ve never seen so much snow before. Umeå was better than Venice!”
- Uppsala or Hoopsala? One traveller nearly ended up in Upsala, USA, instead of Uppsala, Sweden, the city famous for its historic university. A last-minute check prevented the detour, saving the visitor from Viking-free USA.
- Kil, Not Kiel: A rail passenger on their way to Kiel, Germany, somehow ended up in Kil, Sweden—a charming location but certainly lacking the maritime charm of the German port city.
These unintentional detours, though inconvenient at the time, have made for some entertaining stories among those involved. They serve as lighthearted reminders to double-check travel details and avoid unexpected surprises.
Sweden Takes Action to Prevent Confusion
In response to these travel mix-ups, Sweden has become the first country in the world to apply to the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) to trademark its name as a destination. This trademark is intended to help distinguish the original Sweden from its name-sake counterparts and ensure that future visitors have a clearer sense of where they’re headed.
The trademark application has garnered support from travellers, with many suggesting other quintessentially Swedish treasures to trademark. These suggestions include Sweden’s beloved coffee break, fika, the country’s famous cinnamon buns, friluftsliv (the Swedish tradition of embracing nature), and the famous midsommar celebrations, where flower crowns reign supreme.
Tips for Future Travellers
To avoid future mishaps, Sweden recommends checking whether a destination shares its name with other locations before booking a trip. While the holiday season is a time for surprises, ensuring you’re headed to the right place can prevent unwanted detours and mix-ups.
In the end, these stories highlight a key holiday travel lesson: even Santa double-checks his route before taking off! Find out if there’s a place somewhere in the world that shares your name: visitsweden.com/visit-the-original-sweden