The idea of establishing a travel and tourism museum was discussed for the first time in 1980. The heads of the tourism organisations Norsk Folkeferie and Turisttrafikkomiteen for Bergen og Vest-Noway recognised that the knowledge of the industry amassed during the 20th century was about to be lost.
They therefore took the initiative to start the work on creating an institution that would systematically focus on documenting and disseminating the history of travel and tourism in Norway. In 1980, the plan was to establish the museum in Bergen, but lack of interest led hotel director Per Kvikne, the then head of tourism Leif Grinde and university college rector and historian Johs. B. Thue to take up the idea and relocate the museum to Balestrand. The director of culture Lidvin Osland in Sogn og Fjordane County endorsed the project straight away.
Established in 1986
In spring 1986, the Minister of Cultural and Scientific Affairs was in favour of establishing a travel and tourism museum. The museum was recommended for approval, and on 18th November 1986, the Western Norwegian Museum of Tourism Foundation was formed, the only of its kind in the Nordic countries. The museum was originally intended to disseminate the history of travel and tourism in Western Norway, but in 2001, it was decided that the museum should be nationwide, and the name Western Norwegian Museum of Tourism was changed to The Norwegian Museum of Travel and Tourism.
In 2007, The Norwegian Museum of Travel and Tourism in Balestrand became a branch of the Heiberg Collections - Sogn Folkemuseum, which has been a branch of the consolidated Museums in Sogn og Fjordane since 2009. This organisation now receives all the government funding allocated to these museums.
New museum building opened in 2015
From the very start, the museum had plans for what form it was to take. Historical buildings on the quay side were acquired in Balestrand for exhibitions, pending a bigger museum building being built, which, as it has turned out, took some time. In 2001, there was a growing focus on the interaction between industry and culture. This was to benefit the museum. The Norwegian Museum of Travel and Tourism was now put on the political agenda, in 2005, Balestrand Municipality followed suit. In autumn 2007, a cooperation was established with Statsbygg (the Norwegian Directorate of Public Construction and Property), the Minister of Culture and Church Affairs allocated funding, thus ensuring the building was fully financed. The building was completed in spring 2015 and opened to the public on 29th of April 2016.