Home HomeSwedenLivingWorld world_2_fill WorldBusiness BusinessSports sports-soccer SportsEntertainmentEntertain

Car meets boost tourism industry

Sweden's largest car event is underway – two of the country's largest car meets have rolled into Lidköping and Västerås. Tens of thousands of car enthusiasts visiting mean a substantial boost to the cities' coffers.

» Updated: 16 July 2024, 15:58

» Published: 05 July 2024

Car meets boost tourism industry
Photo: Oscar Olsson/TT

Sweden's largest car event is underway – two of the country's largest car meets have rolled into Lidköping and Västerås. Tens of thousands of car enthusiasts mean a significant boost to the cities' coffers.

In Lidköping, Power Big Meet is being held, which calls itself "the world's largest car meet". The meet was held in Västerås from 1987 to 2016 but then moved to Lidköping, and Summer Meet started and took its place in Västerås.

Both car meets gather those interested in American cars and the accompanying culture, including pin-up competitions and cruising through the cities.

It's a major social event for the whole family, often with three generations attending. I'd say it's 80 percent social and 20 percent about the vehicles, says Kjell Gustafsson, founder of Power Big Meet, which is being held for the 45th time.

18 miles for the 18th year in a row

Summer Meet is one of the largest events held in Västerås annually. It engages both residents and visitors and gathers car enthusiasts from around the world.

You can count on 50,000-60,000 people coming to Västerås, so it's a people's festival with lots of activities, says Klas Brink, founder and organizer of Summer Meet.

One of them is Mikael Ståhl from Hällefors, who has traveled 18 miles to visit the car meet in Västerås for the 18th time.

— It's the sense of community that makes you come back and meet people from all over Europe.

Competing for the same weekend

Even though the car meets themselves take place outside the city, it becomes a people's festival in the center. There are no figures on how much the events affect the cities, but both in Västerås and Lidköping, they see a significantly increased turnover.

It generates a local economy, both from locals and visitors, says Sofie Lidholm, development manager at Visit Västerås.

Summer Meet is slightly smaller than its predecessor was during its heyday, she says.

During Power Big Meet, visitors booked their accommodations for next year already when they left, and we don't see that trend anymore. But it's probably because more large car meets have emerged, and some are loyal and prefer to go to Lidköping while others prefer to be in Västerås.

Full booking at hotels

In Lidköping, it's fully booked and hard to find accommodations.

It's a fantastic event where hotels, campsites, gas stations, and restaurants have a significantly higher turnover, says Anna Ohlin Ek, CEO of Destination Läckö-Kinnekulle.

It's an arrangement that engages both locally, nationally, and internationally. Anna Ohlin Ek believes that about 50 percent of the local population loves it and engages, while the others' interest is "varied".

Others might choose to go on vacation just this week.

Power Big Meet and Summer Meet started on Thursday and will continue until Saturday.

Tags
TTT
By TTThis article has been altered and translated by Sweden Herald

More news

Politician Charged with Attempted Murder
1 MIN READ

Politician Charged with Attempted Murder

Dementia patients secretly photographed half-naked at home
1 MIN READ

Dementia patients secretly photographed half-naked at home

The Police's Service Weapons to be Scrapped – Could Have Been Sold
1 MIN READ

The Police's Service Weapons to be Scrapped – Could Have Been Sold

Allegations: Swedes would blow up Finnish motorcycle club
1 MIN READ

Allegations: Swedes would blow up Finnish motorcycle club

Surprised by the Sweden Democrats' statement: "Not political"
3 MIN READ

Surprised by the Sweden Democrats' statement: "Not political"

Swish is experiencing problems
1 MIN READ

Swish is experiencing problems

Man charged with rape and murder of partner
1 MIN READ

Man charged with rape and murder of partner

Global shortage of infusion fluids affects Swedish healthcare
2 MIN READ

Global shortage of infusion fluids affects Swedish healthcare

The Left and the Sweden Democrats want to sell weapons to Israel
2 MIN READ

The Left and the Sweden Democrats want to sell weapons to Israel

Suspected data breach by foreign power
1 MIN READ

Suspected data breach by foreign power

Private flying to holiday paradises – emissions increase
2 MIN READ

Private flying to holiday paradises – emissions increase

Woman secretly filmed the elderly – prosecuted
1 MIN READ

Woman secretly filmed the elderly – prosecuted

Woman Assaulted – Police Investigate Rape
1 MIN READ

Woman Assaulted – Police Investigate Rape

Norwegian Police: We Have Stopped Swedish Criminality
1 MIN READ

Norwegian Police: We Have Stopped Swedish Criminality

Unique finds at a Scanian sacrificial site from the Stone Age
1 MIN READ

Unique finds at a Scanian sacrificial site from the Stone Age

Three seriously injured after crashing into a tree
1 MIN READ

Three seriously injured after crashing into a tree

Boy guilty of attacks linked to online sect
2 MIN READ

Boy guilty of attacks linked to online sect

The Renmark Committee is Dissolved Following Criticism
1 MIN READ

The Renmark Committee is Dissolved Following Criticism

Kristersson skips the climate summit
1 MIN READ

Kristersson skips the climate summit

Audit: Kinberg Batra's severance package not incorrect
1 MIN READ

Audit: Kinberg Batra's severance package not incorrect