Norway’s high level of oil and gas exports and its extremely robust capital reserves, which are again amongst the highest in the world in per capita terms, make it likely that Norway will continue to be one of the wealthiest countries in the world for at least the short and medium term. This bodes well for continued investment in the freight services sector, which in turn is good news for every shipping company and freight company that operates in Norway.

The cost of living is about 30% higher in Norway than in America and the standard of living is one of the highest in the world. These are amongst the factors that led Foreign Policy Magazine in 2009 to judge Norway to be the best functioning and most stable country in the world – a quite remarkable accolade!

The country has achieved this enviable situation partly because Norway has been blessed with natural resources, including oil, natural gas, fish, forestry and minerals, which are particularly high in relation to the small size of the population. In fact, fish have been exported from Lofoten for over 1000 years.The freight services industry has developed and strengthened over the long term to become the model of efficiency it is today. Meanwhile, export revenues from oil and gas make up 45% of total exports and account for 20% of GDP. So shipping companies and freight services have geared up to handle the specific needs of these industries in terms of storage conditions and handling, as well as the more general freight forwarding needs of some other sectors.

This abundance of natural resources and the income they generate for Norway has led to a situation where the hourly productivity levels as well as average hourly wages in Norway are among the highest in the world.

Norway has stayed outside the European Union, following referendums in 1972 and 1994, but together with Liechtenstein and Iceland, it takes part through the European Economic Area agreement and other inter-governmental agreements between the EU member states. This means that Norway is integrated with the EU internal market in the main and freight transport too has benefited as a result of co-operation across borders with other European countries.

As a result of the winning combination of factors, some of which are outlined here, The Norwegian trade surplus for 2008 was around 80 billion dollars, so Norway is well cushioned against the effects of the global financial crisis and in fact it was the only Western country to run a state budget surplus in 2009. Overall, it is one of the countries in the world to be least affected by the worldwide downturn in 2008 and 2009 and unemployment in Norway is still running at under 4%.

So the freight transport sector in Norway can face the future with confidence, as the economy is in good shape and there is likely to be continued substantial government investment in the international freight infrastructure and the industries which it serves.

The international car hire companies available in Norway are Budget, Sixt, Avis, Thrifty, Alamo, and Auto Europe. Get your choice of a car from these companies and secure your private ride while in Norway. Don’t take the chance and rely on public transportation alone. While taxis are easily available in the area, it could be very hard to hail one during the summer months when tourism is at its peak.

Norway is very popular for its beautiful coastline. Travel here if you would like to have a taste of European living. The towns are a scenic spot on their own. The Arctic borders of Norway are great places to spend some leisure time at since the waters are cool, calm, and peaceful.

With the car as your only tool, you can explore Norway in all its glory. Norway is referred to as a fly-and-drive destination. This means that the roads of the country are always in perfect condition and the high mountains offer scenery that you wouldn’t otherwise see elsewhere.

Norway is a sight-seeing country, no doubt about it. Aside from the romantic beaches, the panoramic views all around the city are the very best that it could offer. Get your ride and make your visit to Norway a blast. Hire a car prior to arrival to ensure yourself of a splendid vacation. It’s the only way you can really enjoy your stay.

The fjord cuts almost 200 kilometers inland and when the ship steered into some of the side fjords, which are in fact quite independent, you get the impression of being tested for claustrophobia. The cliffs are so impossibly high and so close that there is a tangible sense of enclosure, of being locked within the landscape itself.

The landscape is beautiful and deserted. You look around in wonder, knowing that Valhalla is near at hand, the hall where heroes and gods feast before the final battle and the end of the world.

You fear that at any moment a Viking “drakkar” may glide out from the mists, full of merciless conquerors. Instead, you might come across a thousand-year-old wooden church, six storeys high, resembling in shape a Viking helmet. Or, more frequently, you’ll find a herd of goats with bells round their necks.

The secrets of the hundreds of fjords, cutting into the Norwegian shores like wrinkles in her skin, are made more tantalising yet by the colorful houses of the locals. Many people come here to breathe deeply and experience one of the most beautiful countries in Europe, a landscape so sparsely populated that it just swallows up crowds without trace.

Norwegian fjords are a fisherman’s paradise teeming with cod, mackerel, sea trout, wolf-fish, sea-devils and of course the king of the fish, the wild salmon. You’d have to search high and low for a better place to fish: a snack perched on a steep slope, its pillars washed by the sea. The views open out across the fjord to ragged rocks dusted with snow and the midnight sun gleaning on the dark waters. And the catch? None, except perhaps a meter long cod or delicious Salmon! It may look like a normal lake but it’s actually northern wilderness. Norway is a country with most unreliable weather forecasts – they are of no use anyway, since you turn a corner and everything is different. “We have two seasons,” Norwegian say, “a white winter and green winter. There’s no such thing as bad weather. You can only be poorly dressed.”

The topography of Norway is not that much friendly and can be called very intense. It contains some very high plateaus, steep fjords, mountains and some very fertile valleys. The climate is also full of varieties and it can be very pleasant around the coastal areas and surprisingly cooler in the inner part of the country. Because of its northern most position on the globe, it experiences long days during summer season and long nights during winter season. During summer, you can witness sunlight until the midnight and therefore, Norway is also known as the land of midnight sun.

As far as the people of Norway are concerned, they are very friendly. People living there are known as Norwegians. As per the latest population count, which was held in 2006, the population of Norway was 4,593,000. The population is not increasing very fast as the annual growth rate is only .41 percent. A surprising fact is that there is only one person for every 15 square miles of land. Most of the people living in Norway are the blend of people from all the Scandinavian countries. The main majority is the mix of Nordic, Alpine and Baltic people who have intermixed with each other for centuries now. People of Norway do not believe in migrating to some other place hence, the immigration rate is very low. It was registered that there were only 300,000 immigrants in 2006.

From the religion point of view, Norwegians are very particular and finicky. More than 87 percent of total of Norwegian people believe in Christianity as their religion and have very firm faith on the church of Norway. The church of Norway is under the Lutheran concept of preaching. Although, Christianity is the widely spread religion but you can also find some Pentecostal Christians, Roman Catholics and Muslims in very small percentages.

Norwegians basically speak two languages i.e. Bokmal Norwegian and Nynorsk. However Norwegian is widely spoken and is the chief language which is taught in the school system. But still, some Sámi and Finish speaking communities can also be found here but not much in number. The literacy of Norway is very close to 100 percent. Also, the life expectancy is very high as the Norwegian male can live up to 76 years and females there can live up to 81 years.

There are now a number of improvements being made to the freight transport infrastructure, notably to the railway network by the state owned operator, NSB, which has invested in improving rolling stock and line speeds. The 4000 kilometre railroad system connects Oslo with Bergen and Stavanger as well as other larger towns and Sweden and full use is made of these by the freight company. A high speed rail connection also connects the international airport at Gardemoen, north of Oslo.

The railway is concentrated in the south of Norway, whilst most of the north is dependent on freight transport by road, air or boat.

The mountainous terrain is one reason why air transport is very important to the freight company in Norway. The air transport infrastructure is highly developed with no less than 58 airports in the country, nearly half of which are state owned.

The road network of some 57,000 miles is concentrated round the more populated areas, especially around Oslo.

But it is in the quality and breadth of its shipping and boat transport that Norway really stands out

Norway is heavily dependent on shipping and in fact it is one of the foremost shipping countries globally, with Norwegian merchant shipping companies owning 10% of the world’s total fleet. The fleet of offshore service ships is the second largest in the world, due to the size of Norway’s oil and gas industry. Norwegian shipping companies also control 25% of the passenger cruise boats in the world and 20% of chemical tankers and gas carriers worldwide.

Shipping is the lynchpin of the freight forwarding system in Norway. There are many ice-free harbours along the coast. The north and west coasts between the Russian border and Bergen make up a vital international freight route from the Atlantic into the Arctic Ocean.

It is a little known fact that Norway is the world’s biggest exporter of oil after Saudi Arabia and Russia. This position has helped consolidate the country’s expertise, with many a specialist shipping company.

However, shipping is also vital on a smaller scale within Norway, with local ferry services a crucial means of transport throughout the country, even in the urban areas of Oslo and Bergen.

Norway has developed its transport infrastructure and freight services in ways that not only overcome the challenges created by its interior geography, but has also embraced the opportunities presented by its natural harbours and waterways.

Norway is truly a blueprint for the successful development of shipping companies worldwide.

Norway is fortunate in that is in a strong economic position and is one of the world’s richest countries per head. Norway has large foreign trade surpluses due to the high cost of oil in recent times. This is enabling the government to invest in developing new industries to support its strategy of diversification.

The Norwegian government is thus able to help support the freight services sector as it faces the challenge of adapting to new conditions.

One of the private sector industries that is robust and growing in Norway in shipping. Shipping companies originally developed in Norway to serve the offshore petrolem industry and have now achieved a dominant market position. In fact, the shipping fleet in Norway is one of the most modern in the world.

Shipping and freight services has therefore been identified as an industry to be further developed and strengthened in future, as a key part of the Norwegian economy.

As shipping companies face the new challenges, the sector is showing innovation as shipping companies identify and seize new opportunities that are relevant for the post petroleum era.

For example, the Norwegian freight company sector is set to break new ground with the launch of the world’s first gas-powered ro-ro vessels. Norwegian shipping company Sea-Cargo AS is building the vessels and they are expected to be launched by 2010. With the focus on lower exhaust emissions from short sea and coastal vessels, Sea Cargo AS identified liquified natural gas as the fuel of the future. These vessels will reduce CO2 emissions by 25% compared with a vessel run on conventional fuel.

Norway, like its neighbour Finland, has a significant role to play in serving the Baltic region. Although the global economic crisis is having a negative impact on freight forwarding in many countries worldwide, international freight to and from the Baltics remains a growth area. The majority of shipping companies and economic commentators are expecting growth in the Baltic region to continue to be strong in the next few years. This will strengthen the freight services sector in those countries like Norway and Finland on which freight transport to the Baltic region depends.

The Baltic Region is now a main trading area for the freight forwarding and shipping company industry based in Bergen. They offer a frequent service to the Baltic Region, mainly with its fleet of side door vessels.The main item requiring freight transport is frozen fish from Norway, Scotland and Iceland. This is transported to many destinations in the Baltic Region. This is an expanding market, with an increasing demand for fish products as the buying power of customers increases in the countries that make up the Baltic Region.

In ways such as these, shipping companies in Norway are showing that they can identify and seize the new opportunities created by changing market conditions. This means that the freight forwarding and international freight industry in Norway face a bright future as they rise to the challenge of responding to change.

Oslo

Oslo is a remarkable Norwegian city that serves as a major tourist attraction for those holidaying in Norway. Tourists and visitors on their Norwegian holiday can enjoy visiting places like galleries and museums. The rich culture of this city can be seen in its attractions like the National Gallery, The Munch Museum, The Norwegian Folk Museum, and The Norwegian Museum of Applied Arts, Norwegian Home Front Museum, The Thor Heyerdahl Kon-Tiki Museum, Oslo City Museum and the Viking Ships Museum. This Norwegian city is also house to architectural rich attractions like the royal palace Kongelige Slott, the parliament building Stortinget and the Akershus castle.

Nidaros Cathedral, Trondheim

This tourist attraction is a fabulous building from the medieval times. Situated in Scandinavia, the building is considered as a national shrine in Norway. Tourists and visitors on their Norwegian holiday must visit this huge structure and see the beauty of this cathedral. Many parts of this attraction are decorated with religious, ornate biblical as well as royal stone statues. Those holidaying in Norway in the summer months can also enjoy crown jewels.

Ajostedal Glacier National Park

Tourist and visitors on a family Norwegian holiday can always visit this tourist attraction for their family vacation. This national park has a lot to offer from glaciers, waterfalls, museum to adventures like hiking, skiing and walking.

Stavanger

This Norwegian city is the cleanest Norwegian attraction and is a place worth visiting for those holidaying in Norway. Many tourists and visitors enjoy the city’s architecture and harbor with historical value. You can also witness amazing wooden buildings, the Norwegian oil museum, Rogaland Art Gallery and the Fish Cannery Museum. Those who appreciate history can enjoy this Norwegian city by strolling through the old town with its cobblestone walkways and 18th century houses.

Tromso

Tromso is a major tourist attraction that offers a variety of things to enjoy for a great Norwegian holiday. From cultural activities, restaurants, bars, a brewery, museums to street music. The virtual planetarium here is a crowd puller and offers a visual delight.

Bergen

Former Norwegian capital, Bergen is another favorite tourist attraction for many tourists and visitors holidaying in Norwegian. The most striking feature of this Norwegian city is the beautiful Bryggen buildings dating back to the 17th century. The town also has some historically rich galleries and museums with Bergen heritage and art.

Best time for a Norwegian holiday

Tourists and visitors holidaying in Norway prefer its late spring time for vacationing. An ideal holiday in Norway would be advised from the months of May to September.

Located at the northern edge of European continent – Norway offers almost everything that is supposed to be wanderer’s choice. Nevertheless, fjords are first temptation in Norway but no one can deny the allurement of North Cape’s midnight sun. Looking for more then come to Tromso, situated just above to Arctic Circle, the unique city calls you to savor unusual experience. This is the city where sun never rises in winter and never goes down in mid summer.

Now come to next city Oslo, this is the capital city of the country and also the major financial centre. The picturesque destination is a gateway to the oil industry of Norway.

Nevertheless, country is not populated densely but its inadequate distribution of population also creates some unusual enchantment, as the largest glacier of Europe ‘Josteldalsbreen’ is situated amid the urban area in the country.

If you are looking forward to get involved in outdoor activities, opt for either skiing, fishing or rock climbing. All of these activities are quite exhilarating in Norway, but you require being attentive while doing this. People who want to enjoy the tranquility can opt get a look of high-mountain lakes and steep side valleys; these are another temptation of Norway Travel.

Nowadays, people are widely opting for a tour to Norway, as its unusual fjords are getting good attention. The country is replete with unusual enchantments, which wonderfully complements its unique identity. The north European paradise is a captivation for tourists from all across the world. If you too are planning a trip to this gorgeous getaway, get your ticket booked today itself. It is not a difficult task and numerous online travel guides are there to assist you in your endeavor. You can also get an online reservation in Norway hotels using online reservation system offered by travel guides.