Photo:
Sverre Hjørnevik
About us
Visit Sognefjord is the destination company (DMO) for the municipalities of Høyanger, Vik, Sogndal, Luster, Lærdal, Årdal and Aurland.
Visit Sognefjord is a sales, marketing and expertise body for businesses, municipalities and organizations that have interests linked to the tourism industry and profiling of the region, and contribute to solving joint tasks for the tourism industry in the participating municipalities.
Through gathering and coordinating resources and interests, Visit Sognefjord will work for a sustainable development of the tourism industry to ensure increased value creation and employment. Visit Sognefjord will stimulate development of knowledge, skills and products and be an active promoter of activities and projects that are important to the tourism industry. Visit Sognefjord will market the region as a destination for the leisure and MICE market, as well as contribute to marketing of the region as a place to live, work and experience. Visit Sognefjord shall be the representative of tourism in the region in relevant local, national and international forums.
Vision
The destination Sognefjord will be developed according to the vision «All Sognefjord, all real, all year».
All Sognefjord
To ensure that all parts of Sognefjord are developed on the villages' own premises, and to showcase the great range of activities, attractions and different sites. Cultivate the differences within what we have in common, and what is unique to each region and how the development should be.
All real
Building tourism on the premise of natural values, cultural history and the people who live here. Bring out life by the Sognefjord as it actually is and has been, and develop tourism in line with how we want it to be in the future. Building up under a balanced social development, which manages the resources in a wise way and which brings out the distinctive features of each individual village and business.
The whole year
Create a tourism industry that provides stable year-round jobs, which in turn creates new residents in the local communities, profitable businesses that are able to invest in further development and that contribute to maintaining a vibrant trade and service industry in the local communities. Develop products and services that provide an even number of visitors that match the villages' capacity throughout the year, and that give the visitors good quality experiences that match the seasons.
Eco-lighthouse
Visit Sognefjord AS, as a company, was certified as an Eco- Lighthouse in September 2018, and was recertified in September 2021. Visit Sognefjord worked continuously to improve its impact on the environment, climate and working environment in its own operations and value chain.
Eco-Lighthouse enterprises work towards satisfying requirements and implementing environmental measures on a systematic and ongoing basis in order to create more environmentally friendly operations and safer work environments. Enterprises are certified subject to independent assessment and must undergo a recertification process every three years.
Sustainable Destination
Visit Sognefjord has received the certification as a Sustainable Destination.
This is a mark of quality that shows that we, as a destination, work strategically and long-term to create sustainable tourism over time.
The Sustainable Destination label is a national certification scheme developed by Innovation Norway, the only one of its kind in the Nordic region. Being certified as a sustainable destination proves that the destination management, together with the municipalities and local tourism actors, are working to: reduce greenhouse gas emissions related to tourism, focus on biodiversity, preserve local cultural heritage, and support the vibrant rural communities along the Sognefjord. We also focus on facilitating sustainable and innovative solutions for the future, ensuring that tourism creates positive local ripple effects and is adapted to life along the Sognefjord.
Destinations that are part of the certification scheme must be re-certified every three years. Visit Sognefjord will be re-certified during the summer of 2026. At that time, we must demonstrate improvements across 106 different indicators.
As a tool to achieve this, we follow the Sognefjord Master Plan, which is anchored in all the municipalities and developed in collaboration with the local tourism industry.
The Master Plan outlines the challenges, opportunities, and measures we must implement in order to become a destination that develops tourism based on the premises of the fjord communities, nature, and cultural history.
Do you have questions, want to know more, or share input to the work? Please contact Master Plan and Sustainability Coordinator, Ellen Fivelstad, at Visit Sognefjord.
Are you looking for a sustainability project?
“Leave nothing but footprints” has been a goal for a long time, but we now see a new trend where travel companies also wish to give a contribution to the places their customers visit.
The Nærøyfjord Area is one of the most popular places to visit along the Sognefjord, and off course it does come at a cost. To many tourists at the same time can be a challenge for the locals, both the four-legged and the two-legged.
As part of making and keeping the Nærøyfjord area great, last year the Nærøyfjord Park established the “environment-patrol”. Four young adults cleaned the out-door toilets, put up signs, marked and maintained the trails, and built bridges. Last but maybe most important they talked to tourists on the boat, along the trails, and informed them about both their work, the wildlife and the best way to behave in nature to keep it clean and not interfere with the wildlife, or the local farmer’s everyday work.
Please find below a link where you can find more information and see the pictures, unfortunately the text is in Norwegian only:
Miljøpatruljen takkar for i år! — Nærøyfjorden Verdsarvpark but you may have a look at the pictures, from their work.
The “environment-patrol” has really been a success, and to keep it running also for next year we need some fundings, if you would like to participate, please contact
Please contact Bengt Erlend Skjerdal @ BengtErlend@verdsarvparken.no for more information about their work and how to proceed with the fundings.
Photo:
Jan M. Lillebø
Contact us
For all enquiries: Telephone +47 91 35 06 59 or email post@sognefjord.no
Heidi Hauge CEO
heidi(a)sognefjord.no
Renate Kvåle Hagen, Marketing Manager
renate(a)sognefjord.no
Benedicte Elisabeth Stedje, Sales Manager
benedicte(a)sognefjord.no
Ellen Fivelstad, Sustainable Tourism
ellen(a)sognefjord.no
Tonje Hareland, Digital Marketing PR
tonje(a)sognefjord.no
