Finns' travel to Sweden, Spain increase in 2016

Finnish residents made good eight million different leisure trips abroad in 2016. Trips to the Nordic countries, Eastern Europe and the American continent increased their popularity, according to Statistics Finland.

Western Europe and Asia lost some of their appeal among Finnish tourists. Among Southern European countries, western Mediterranean countries gained and eastern Mediterranean countries lost in popularity. The number of domestic leisure trips was 26 million. Business trips both in Finland and abroad increased from the previous year.

Finnish residents’ leisure trips abroad remained on level with 2015 in 2016. Slightly fewer trips than in 2015 were made to Estonia in 2016, but it maintained its unswerving top position as a travel destination for Finns. Overnight cruises to Estonia increased but day cruises diminished.

Leisure trips to Sweden increased from the year before. Trips to Russia also grew after a couple of years’ decline.

Of conventional favourites, Germany and France lost in popularity while trips to Italy, Continental Spain and the Canary Islands increased.

The number of trips heading outside Europe increased to the American continent. Seventy per cent of these trips were headed to the United States. In contrast, Asia lost some of its popularity as a leisure destination for Finns.

The number of domestic trips with paid accommodation remained at the same level as in the previous year. In turn, trips lasting at least four nights increased from the previous year. As expected, summer months were the most popular time to travel in Finland.

One-fifth of trips with paid accommodation were made to the region of Uusimaa. The next most popular regions were Pirkanmaa, North Ostrobothnia and Lapland. The most popular towns were Helsinki, Tampere and Turku.

Compared with the previous year, nights spent at hotels and rented cottages remained roughly at the same level.

The most popular destination for trips with free accommodation was also Uusimaa. The next most popular destinations for trips with free accommodation were Pirkanmaa, North Ostrobothnia and Varsinais-Suomi.

The number of business trips both in Finland and abroad increased from the previous year.