Tourism officials looking to attract new visitors to the northern reaches of Sweden are getting help from a local businessman. If you’ve traveled to the area to take part in the sport of moose hunting then you too will appreciate what the business owner has come up with.
By this time next year not only will you get to enjoy the hunt for a moose to eat, but you’ll have the ability to eat in a moose as well—a massive, wooden moose.
Once complete the proposed tourist attraction/restaurant will measure 148-feet tall and 155-feet long. The moose structure will have a restaurant in its belly, as well as a concert hall, conference rooms and a shop. And according to tourism officials, the monument will be so massive that its hooves will be planted in two different counties, Vasterbotten and Norrbotten, about 540 miles north of Stockholm.
Officials are hoping the moose—–which locals call the king of the forest—will draw additional tourists to the area. The region already gets its fair share of visitors who take advantage of the opportunities to go whitewater rafting, cave exploring, and of course, moose hunting. But, since the location of the new attraction is no where near populated areas, tourism officials are going all out to hype the giant moose. The project is expected to cost $9.4 million and be open for business by the end of 2008.
If you are traveling to Sweden in the near future you might be interested in the results of a recent study regarding cultural traditions there.
Bottom line: If you are not an affectionate person–—prepare yourself—Swedes are huggers.
The new study found that while Swedes have a reputation of being reserved, they’ll hug just about anyone except their boss. According to the report, nine out of 10 Swedes embrace somebody at least once a week, with women aged 30-44 being the most active huggers.
About 70% of respondents said they routinely hug their spouses; 60% said they actively hug friends and acquaintances; and 25% said they regularly hug their colleagues. But only 4% admitted to hugging their boss.
The study also found that there is a certain etiquette to Swedish hugging traditions.
More than 80% said it was appropriate to hug a person in mourning, while 55% said they would hug a stranger who had just found their wallet.
Which means if you don’t want to be hugged by a local on your next trip to Sweden don’t misplace and later find your wallet in the middle of town.
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