Five Reasons to Become an STF Member

The Swedish Tourist Association (STF) is a non-profit organization founded in 1885 in Uppsala. It was created to promote tourism across Sweden, and today the association has more than 238,000 members. The idea behind STF is to help people discover their country, but the association does much more than provide tourist information. For example, the association has mapped most of the hiking trails in the mountains, and today STF’s ten mountain stations ensure that the natural areas in the north are accessible to everyone. Here are five reasons why you should get an STF membership:

STF Protects Swedish Nature

STF works with sustainable tourism that preserves the natural and cultural values of destinations. The association organizes thousands of courses and activities at their various facilities each year to inform about important environmental issues. Several of their accommodations also hold various environmental certifications and operate sustainably. STF has a goal for all their accommodations to be sustainable by the end of 2019. This means, among other things, that energy consumption is kept at low levels, waste is sorted, and the accommodation contributes to a thriving local community. The association also arranges various eco-activities where tourists get to experience Swedish nature in an environmentally friendly way.

300 Different Accommodations in Sweden

The association has nearly 300 different accommodations located throughout Sweden. There are hostels, hotels, mountain cabins, and mountain stations run by STF. Some accommodations have staff, meal service, and other on-site services. Several also offer activities, board games, and lending libraries to guarantee evening entertainment. Streaming movies or playing online games like Yatzy, Wordfeud or blackjack is also possible at some STF accommodations since they have internet. There are even mountain cabins deep in the wilderness that have Wi-Fi. Some STF accommodations don’t have live-in staff, but hosts who greet visitors, show them how everything works, and accept payments. In more sparsely populated areas like the mountains, there are often self-service accommodations where visitors unlock the cabin themselves and leave payment in a cash box. What all accommodations share is that they’re located in incredible natural settings.

Stay for Less in Sweden and Abroad

You don’t have to be an STF member to stay at their accommodations, but members stay for less. Currently, you get a SEK 50 discount per night at hotels and hostels, and SEK 100 per night at mountain stations and mountain cabins. STF collaborates with its international counterpart, Hostelling International. As an STF member, you therefore also get discounts at over 4,000 hostels in more than 80 countries. STF members also receive discounts at mountain cabins or mountain stations belonging to the Norwegian Trekking Association (DNT), the Icelandic Touring Association, and Suomen Latu.

Enjoy Various Benefits

All STF members get 10% off Snälltåget and SJ train tickets for both day and night trains. The association encourages train travel to various destinations as it’s better for the environment than driving or flying. Members also typically receive discounts from bus companies. Discounts and other offers from stores specializing in outdoor gear are also a common member benefit.

STF Serves an Important Function

STF works toward the vision “We help people discover Sweden.” Today, Swedish schools are no longer a gateway to outdoor life and Swedish nature. Urbanization, segregation, and digitalization make it even more important to promote nature experiences with the accompanying sense of community. STF aims to guide people to nature and cultural experiences, making Sweden accessible while including social groups that don’t know what the country has to offer. STF also offers job opportunities in areas where there are no other paths to employment. Several mountain areas that would otherwise be desolate today attract both seasonal workers and tourists thanks to STF’s accommodations, activities, and facilities. A membership helps STF continue its important work and promote outdoor life.