Stockholm - Come Christmas Day, Swedes are more likely to receive a gift certificate for some kind of event or service than a book, electronic device or physical gift, reported a Swedish institute Thursday.

It was the first time the Swedish Research Institute of Trade listed a voucher for a service as the likely top-selling Christmas gift, said the group, which tracks retail and wholesale sales in Sweden.

"Giving an experience is a way to be together with someone," the institute said, noting that giving an experiences "truly reflects the times we live in, when consumers to a greater extent seek products that help them enrich their leisure time."

The opportunities are numerous - ranging from a spa visit to a wine and cheese-tasting session, a theatre performance, or a trip to Europe's most romantic city or a salsa dance course, the researchers noted.

Businesses have become more skilful at packaging and marketing these products, the institute said.

The institute has for the past 20 years made a prediction of what it expects be the most popular Christmas gift in Sweden. Often, it is on the mark.

Last year, devices for global positioning systems (GPS) topped the institute's list of best-selling Christmas gifts. In 2006, the institute predicted audio books would top sales while in 2005 it named poker sets as the most popular Christmas gift, and in 2004 opted for flat screen televisions.

But the predictions have been off the mark some years, like in 1998 when home baking machine were tipped to top sales in Sweden.

Although the current financial turmoil makes it difficult to forecast sales during the upcoming holiday season, they were tipped to top 61 billion kronor (7.5 billion dollars), up 2.5 per cent on 2007, the institute said.

On average, that sum translates to 6,600 kronor (819 dollars) per person. (dpa)