Editing Birger Nordholm (section)

== Biography ==
Birger Nordholm was born in 1897 in [[Stockholm]], [[Sweden]], and grew up in [[Östermalm]] where he studied at [[Östra Real]].

[[File:GE_Building_by_David_Shankbone.JPG|thumb|Under Birger Nordholm's tenure, the Swedish National Tourist Office was established in the [[Rockefeller Center]] in [[New York City]], [[United States]].]]
{{Blockquote|text="Peace and understanding through travel."|author=Birger Nordholm}}

Birger Nordholm devoted his career to the promotion of [[tourism]] and [[international relations]] between [[Sweden]], the [[United States]] and [[Europe]]. During Nordholm's lifetime, [[tourism in Sweden]] expanded into one of the nation's main revenue source, and Nordholm was a keen promoter of its transatlantic development.

Nordholm initiated and headed the Swedish National Tourist Office 1921–1963, located in the [[Rockefeller Center]] in [[New York City]], United States.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://cdnc.ucr.edu/cgi-bin/cdnc?a=d&d=VEST19570704.1.5|title=Vestkusten 4 July 1957 — California Digital Newspaper Collection|website=cdnc.ucr.edu}}</ref> He went on to serve as [[Managing Director]] for the [[Swedish State Railways]] Travel Information Agency as well as the [[Swedish-American Chamber of Commerce]] in New York City, and was a lifelong member of the [[Scandinavian Travel Commission]].<ref>LOCOMOTIVE ENGINEERS JOURNAL NOVEMBER 1934</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://runeberg.org/vemardet/1933/0628.html|title=628 (Vem är det : Svensk biografisk handbok / 1933)|website=runeberg.org}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=E1_UyWdcqrcC&q=nordholm&pg=PA239|title=Cold War Holidays: American Tourism in France|first=Christopher|last=Endy|date=1 October 2018|publisher=Univ of North Carolina Press|isbn=9780807855485|via=Google Books}}</ref>

After [[World War II]], as part of the [[Marshall Plan]], Nordholm was appointed the initial [[Chairman]] (1949–1958) of the [[European Travel Commission]] by [[President of the United States|President]] [[Dwight D. Eisenhower]]. In addition, he was appointed President of the Conference of European Railroad Representatives.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=VEST19541216.2.6&srpos=23&e=-------en--20--21--txt-txIN-birger+nordholm-------1|title = Vestkusten 16 December 1954 — California Digital Newspaper Collection}}</ref>
<ref>[http://etc-corporate.org/uploads//ETC%20History%20Book%20_%20HD.pdf EUROPEAN TRAVEL COMMISSION 1948— 2018]</ref>

{{Blockquote|text="The ETC has come to be definitely recognised as the coordinating agency for all these interests and as such is able to attract other European travel advertising and promotion to support its own efforts and thereby present a vastly larger sales story to the American public than is possible with ETC funds alone."|author=Birger Nordholm}}

Following the simplification of visa regulations, customs procedures, and other formalities, as expressed in a 1952 edition of the ''[[This Week (magazine)|This Week]]'' magazine, Birger Nordholm together with [[Arthur Haulot]] foregrounded the "purposeful" and "educational" dimension of "a new type of tourism" that would be "the foundation of lasting peace".<ref>Travel Key to Europe (New York: This Week Magazine, 1952), pp.6–7</ref> This would eventually contribute to the development of the [[OECD]] Tourism Committee.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://etc-corporate.org/70-years/|title = 70 Years of ETC}}</ref>

Nordholm's residences in New York City and [[Weston, Connecticut|Weston]], [[Connecticut]], would become centers of international festivities, including annual [[Midsummer]] celebrations held at his [[country house]] "Tuckaway", attended by [[ambassador]]s, [[Consular assistance|consular heads]], the [[News media|press]], [[Miss Sweden]] and other dignitaries, as well as friends and neighbours, and Nordholm became a well-known international speaker.<ref>''[[The New York Times]]''</ref><ref>''[[The Westport Town Crier]]''</ref><ref>''[[Dagens Nyheter]]''</ref>

He died in 1989 in [[Raleigh, North Carolina|Raleigh]], [[Wake County, North Carolina|Wake County]], [[North Carolina]], [[United States]], with ashes buried at his [[country house]] "Tuckaway" in [[Connecticut]].