Earning of Helsinki from tourism rises by 25% in 2023

In terms of tourism income, Helsinki was Finland’s most significant tourism destination in the last year, according to studies on the effects of tourism on income and employment in the municipalities in 2023.

The capital city was followed by Tampere, Turku, Vantaa and Jyväskylä for significant earnings in tourism, said the City of Helsinki in a press release on Thursday.

Direct tourism income in Helsinki totalled roughly €1.5 billion in 2023, which is 25 per cent higher compared to the earning in the sector in the previous year.

The city nearly reached pre-pandemic levels, as income from tourism in 2018 totalled roughly €1.6 billion.

Growth has been seen despite the complete loss of one of Helsinki’s significant source markets, Russia.

Additionally, Japanese and Chinese tourists have not yet fully found their way back to Helsinki, in part due to Russia’s overflight ban.

In 2024, Helsinki has seen a growth in registered overnight stays and expecting to beat the 2018 record in tourism income during this year.

“It is fantastic that we have finally reached pre-pandemic levels in both tourism income and overnight stays. All the while, the geopolitical situation, reduced consumer purchasing power, and changes is consumer behaviour will all have an effect on business profitability. The increased accommodation capacity in Helsinki also introduces another difficulty,” said Nina Vesterinen, tourism manager of the City of Helsinki.

Vesterinen also reminded that tourism income is not the only indicator.

“We have invested significantly into sustainable tourism and Helsinki has risen consistently in the Global Destination Sustainability Index, which is an indicator of the sustainability of tourism destinations. Helsinki is currently in fourth place,” Vesterinen added.

Direct tourism income in Finland totalled roughly €11.78 billion in 2023.

Finland’s most significant tourism destinations carried out the first-ever joint study last year. This year, the study included representation from Eastern Finland and Lapland as well.

Additionally, for the first time, the study measured Finland’s total tourism income with the same research method. Of the most notable Finnish tourism destinations, the only ones not included are Rovaniemi and Kuopio.

This means that the study is a uniquely wide viewpoint on the economic and employment effects of the entire tourism sector in Finland.

Over 40 tourism regions participated in the study carried out by research firm Visitory Oy.