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Sweden is on Airbnb

For globe trotters, this could be the dream destination – an entire country that is listed on Airbnb.

“Allemansratten – or the freedom to roam – is a principle protected by Swedish law that gives all people the right to be free in Swedish nature. In other words, Swedish nature isn’t just a piece of land with trees and lakes and cliffs – it’s a home with all the necessities and amenities that any great home should have. It’s a place where you can eat berries from the ground, sleep under the stars, swim in the lakes and roam freely. To make this home available for everyone, Sweden has listed the entire country on Airbnb.”

Thus proclaims the website visitswedencom. In fact, the Swedish Constitution has a mention of Allemansratt, which means “the right of public access”. It gives people (both locals and tourists) the right to access any land – with the exception of private residences – within a certain distance of a dwelling house or farm plot.

A memorable campaign by Forsman & Bodenfors (the agency behind the brilliant Volvo Epic Split campaign) has used Allemansratt to great effect in its campaign for Visit Sweden, the tourism board. It just went ahead and listed the country on Airbnb.

Curious travellers can now explore any part of Sweden. This is a first-of-its-kind between a tourism board and Airbnb. Of course, roaming is not entirely free. A prospective visitor can scroll past listings like “Cliff with Panoramic Ocean View” and find legitimate Airbnb rentals at market appropriate prices.

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