Sweden Seeks to Trademark its Name to End Travel Confusion

Did you know Earth is home to 8 places named Sweden?

A recent Swedish survey reveals that 11% of Americans have admitted to inadvertently traveling to the wrong place due to the same or similar names.

With 24 million American travelers expressing interest in visiting Sweden, that could result in 2.6 million of us going to the wrong Sweden. Can you imagine?

Sweden is not alone in the case of mistaken identity. More than half of our fifty states have a community called Springfield. When the city of Portland is mentioned, do you think of Oregon or Maine? The United Kingdom has one as well.

It’s no wonder travelers get confused.

Visit Sweden Plans To Stop Identity Confusion

scanrail/depositphotos

While a country cannot trademark its name, a recognized travel destination can. So, Visit Sweden is taking the cheeky but unprecedented move to resolve the issue by applying to trademark the “Sweden” name through the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO).

The idea is to protect the country’s identity and help ensure unsuspecting travelers book their trip to the original Sweden.

Rather than inadvertently landing in a small town in the middle of the United States, travelers can enjoy an authentic Sweden experience with breathtaking landscapes, archipelagos, and either the Midnight Sun or the northern lights.

Susanne Andersson, CEO of Visit Sweden, remarks,

“When someone says they’re visiting Sweden, we want them to experience our cinnamon buns and princess cake, unique culture, serene beauty in nature and wilderness, and possibly meet a moose or two, not accidentally end up in a small town with the same name elsewhere.”

Where Are the Other Swedens?

While the original Sweden nestles in northern Europe, Indonesia claims one, and the United States has six.

Which American states have a place named Sweden? Those states are Arkansas, Georgia, Maine, Missouri, Pennsylvania, and South Carolina.

Although these towns are lovely, each offers a very different experience from what the traveler hopes to experience in the original Sweden.

How to Identify the Original Sweden

Peter Gerdehag/Folio/imagebank.sweden.se

Nobody wants to get duped. So, how can you be sure you landed in the right place? Here are signs that you are in the original Sweden.

Exclusive islands: Undisturbed nature takes center stage on pristine islands rather than hordes of tourists and glitzy shops.

Unique forms of transportation: You can explore the legendary Swedish Lapland by dog sled or snowmobile.

Anna Öhlund/imagebank.sweden.se

Time machine: You can go back in time at the Visby and Laponian Area UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Mythical animals: You may see exotic wildlife like reindeer and moose.

Ice hotels: You will discover unique accommodations like the original ice hotel or lodgings floating on water, perched in a tree, or among Nordic wildlife.

Asaf Kliger / ICEHOTEL

Unique foods: You can enjoy culinary delights like reindeer meat, crispbread, cloudberry jam, and spettekaka, a pyramid cake drizzled with white or pink icing.

Telling time is challenging: Similar to Fairbanks, Alaska, you experience endless daylight or darkness, depending on your time of visit.

You feel welcome: No matter who you are or whom you love, you feel comfortable at one of the planet’s most welcoming and progressive places.

Plan Your Trip to Sweden

Maskot/Folio/imagebank.sweden.se

Now that you know how to distinguish the original Sweden from the dupes, you can confidently plan your northern Europe trip, knowing you will land in the right place.

With its breathtaking landscapes, arctic adventures, and culinary delights, Sweden offers the adventure of a lifetime.

In the meantime, check out the Visit Sweden website to learn more about the beautiful country and plan your adventure to the original Sweden.