Norwegian transport industry owners' association NHO Transport reports that bus lines based in Poland, Estonia, Lithuania and elsewhere in Europe are bringing busloads of Asian tourists into Norway in violation of Norwegian 'cabotage' rules that forbid foreign carriers from transporting passengers between locations within Norway.

Bus drivers for Poland and Baltic countries are paid significantly less than are Norwegian drivers - 77% are paid less than the Norwegian minimum wage. So Asian tour operators charter buses in these countries and use them to conduct tours of Norway for customers from China and South Korea.

Also these foreign bus companies are believed to be unlawfully evading Norway's VAT.

Many of the foreign tour operators provide their customers with refreshments bought at low prices in the bus company's country of origin, so that the only thing bought in Norway is fuel.

Tour guides complain of lack of local knowledge on the part of the foreign drivers - buy money talks.