Finnish travel: documentation of statistics
23.11.2024 valid documentation
Basic data of the statistics
Data description
The statistics on Finnish Travel contain information on trips made by Finnish residents and on the number of persons having travelled during the year. The statistics describe trips in Finland and abroad including overnight stay and same-day trips abroad. Information on domestic day trips is compiled every three years starting from year 2018.
Statistical population
Trips outside of usual environment by persons aged 15 – 84 permanently resident in Finland.
For trips during the whole year persons aged 15 – 85 permanently resident in Finland.
For trips during the whole year persons aged 15 – 85 permanently resident in Finland.
Statistical unit
For trips, the statistical unit is a trip. For persons having travelled during the year, the statistical unit is a person.
Unit of measure
Trips and persons having made trips in thousands.
Reference period
The reference is period is calendar year.
Reference area
The area of reference is Finland.
Sector coverage
Covers trips by persons aged 15 to 84 permanently resident in Finland as well as number of persons having travelled during the whole year.
Time coverage
The statistics has been compiled for 1991 – 2020. Break in time series in years 2000, 2010 and 2012. Current time series is comparable from 2012.
Frequency of dissemination
Annual release once per year and preliminary releases three times per year from tourism periods: winter (January – April), summer (May – August), autumn (September – December).
Concepts
Business trip
The category of business and professional trips comprises all business and professional activities outside the usual environment. The visitor takes the professional trip because of requirements related to his/her occupation or the economic activity of the production unit for which he/she works. This category includes sales to foreign enterprises, attending meetings, conferences or congresses, trade fairs and exhibitions, employer incentive tours, etc. Usually it is the employer who pays the costs for business trip.
In the Finnish Travel survey this category of trips goes under the heading 'Business/conference'.
In the Finnish Travel survey this category of trips goes under the heading 'Business/conference'.
Country of residence
For the purpose of tourism statistics, country of residence is defined as the country where a person has lived for most of the past 12 months. Tourists are defined as non-residents/residents according to the country of residence, and not to the nationality.
Cruise
In the Finnish Travel survey, a cruise usually refers to a round trip by boat/ferry outside the territorial waters of Finland. A cruise usually includes an overnight on board (overnight cruise). If a cruise does not include an overnight on board it is called 'a day cruise'. A cruise may or may not include a visit (same-day visit) ashore in the destination country, but no overnight stay in that country. A cruise can also be a one-way overnight cruise, if departure or return is done by some other means of transportation (e.g. by air) and the trip does not include any night spent in the country visited. By purpose cruises are broken down to leisure cruises or business/professional cruises, e.g. seminars on board.
Day cruise
In the Finnish Travel survey, a day cruise usually refers to a round trip by boat/ferry outside the territorial waters of Finland cross the Gulf of Finland in the direction of Estonia, or cross the Gulf of Bothnia in the direction of Sweden. The duration of a day cruise is less than 20 hours with no overnights either on board or in the destination country. The departure and the return take place during the same calendar day. A day cruise may or may not include a visit ashore in the destination country. By purpose day cruises are broken down to leisure cruises or business/professional cruises, e.g. seminars on board.
Domestic tourism
Domestic tourism comprises the activities of residents of a given country travelling to and staying in places inside their residential country, but outside their usual environment for not more than 12 consecutive months for leisure, business or other purposes.
Domestic trip
A domestic trip is a trip made by a resident of a given country within his/her residential country, and outside his/her usual environment. The maximum duration of trip is 12 consecutive months.
The definition of domestic trip is derived from the World Tourism Organization's (WTO) definitions for 'Domestic tourism' and 'Domestic visitor'.
The definition of domestic trip is derived from the World Tourism Organization's (WTO) definitions for 'Domestic tourism' and 'Domestic visitor'.
Duration of trip
Duration of trip refers to the time spent during a visit measured from the standpoint of the generating country or place. A trip begins when leaving home and ends when returning home. By duration trips are classified into two main categories: same-day visits and overnight trips. The maximum duration for overnight trips is 12 consecutive months. The maximum duration for same-day visits is less than 24 hours, so that departure and return takes place within the same calendar day and no nights are spent during the trip.
Leisure trip
A leisure trip refers to the purpose and motive of a visit. Trips (visits) for leisure, recreation and holiday purposes outside the usual environment are mainly undertaken for relaxation. It is the visitor who decides to take the tourist trip as an activity unconnected with his/her occupation, and the trip is usually financed out of household funds.
In the Finnish travel survey all trips that do not come under the category of 'Business/congress trips' are considered leisure trips. This category covers trips to own holiday home, visits to friends and relatives, as well as leisure cruises and same-day visits.
In the Finnish travel survey all trips that do not come under the category of 'Business/congress trips' are considered leisure trips. This category covers trips to own holiday home, visits to friends and relatives, as well as leisure cruises and same-day visits.
Long trip
In the tourism statistics of the EU (Eurostat) trips are broken down by duration into two main categories: short trips and long trips. Short trips consist of 1-3 nights and long trips of four or more nights. The maximum duration of a trip is 12 consecutive months.
Outbound tourism
Outbound tourism comprises the activities of residents of a given country travelling to and staying in places outside their country of residence and outside their usual environment for not more than 12 consecutive months for leisure, business and other purposes.
Overnight stay
In the tourism statistics of the EU (Eurostat) an overnight stay is a statistical unit to measure both the volume of tourism, e.g. duration of stay on the supply side and duration of trip on the demand side. Number of nights spent (duration of stay) either in collective or private accommodation refers to the time spent during a visit measured from the standpoint of the receiving country or place.
On the other hand, the number of nights spent during a trip (duration of trip) measures the time a traveller spends away from home. In the tourism demand statistics (the Finnish Travel survey), the duration of a trip is classified by the number of nights spent into two main categories: short trips including 1-3 nights, and long trips including 4 or more nights. Overnight travelling by boat/ferry, train or other vehicle is included in the total number of nights spent during the trip. As regards tourism statistics, the maximum duration of stay in the destination place/country is 12 consecutive months.
On the other hand, the number of nights spent during a trip (duration of trip) measures the time a traveller spends away from home. In the tourism demand statistics (the Finnish Travel survey), the duration of a trip is classified by the number of nights spent into two main categories: short trips including 1-3 nights, and long trips including 4 or more nights. Overnight travelling by boat/ferry, train or other vehicle is included in the total number of nights spent during the trip. As regards tourism statistics, the maximum duration of stay in the destination place/country is 12 consecutive months.
Overnight trip
An overnight trip refers to a trip outside the usual environment, during which at least one night is spent in private or collective accommodation either for free or for a charge. The maximum duration of a trip is 12 consecutive months.
In the Finnish Travel survey an overnight trip is a statistical unit to measure the volume of overnight tourism. The duration of a trip is measured by the number of nights spent during it. Overnight travelling by boat/ferry, train or other vehicles is included in the total number of nights spent during the trip.
In the Finnish Travel survey an overnight trip is a statistical unit to measure the volume of overnight tourism. The duration of a trip is measured by the number of nights spent during it. Overnight travelling by boat/ferry, train or other vehicles is included in the total number of nights spent during the trip.
Package tour
Package tours (package travel, package holidays) comprise a number of tourism products which are purchased by the visitor as a single entity. Such packages usually comprise transport and accommodation, but may also include meals, coach tours, car hire, admission tickets to theaters or attractions or any other product of interest to a tourist. There is one single charge for the whole package, which is usually cheaper than the aggregated cost of the items if purchased separately.
Place of residence
For the purpose of international/domestic tourism statistics, a person is considered to be a resident in a country/place where he/she has lived for most of the past 12 months. As regards international tourism, place of residence usually refers to the country of residence. As regards domestic tourism, place of residence is often defined as an administrative unit, like municipality or region.
Private tourist accommodation
Private tourist accommodation comprises forms of accommodation that do not conform to the definition of collective tourism establishments. These provide a limited number of bed-places for rent or free of charge. Each accommodation unit (room, dwelling) is independent and occupied by tourists, usually for a week, fortnight or month or by its owner as a second or holiday home.
Reason for trip
Purpose of visit refers to the motivation of the trip, the reason in the absence of which the trip would not have taken place. If a trip has more than one purpose (e.g. combined business and holiday trip) the main purpose of visit refers to the reason in the absence of which the trip would not have taken place or the given destination would not have been visited.
Rented cottage, holiday dwelling
In the tourism statistics, a rented cottage (chalet, bungalow) refers to a private rental tourist accommodation. As a mode of accommodation rented cottage can be compared to one's own holiday home. They are usually rented on a weekly, fortnightly or monthly basis, either direct from the owner or by a mediator. Accommodation in cottages (chalets, bungalows) provided by hotels, holiday villages or camping sites belongs to the category of collective accommodation establishments.
In Finland rented holiday dwellings located in the surroundings of tourists centres have increased rapidly in recent years. In the area of tourism centres rented holiday dwellings form a sort of holiday community, where, besides accommodation, dwellers are offered other services, like cleaning, laundry, waste disposal and other maintenance services. The dwellers can also use all the services offered in the centre, such as restaurant and catering services, shops, spas, ski lifts, ski slopes and tracks.
In Finland rented holiday dwellings located in the surroundings of tourists centres have increased rapidly in recent years. In the area of tourism centres rented holiday dwellings form a sort of holiday community, where, besides accommodation, dwellers are offered other services, like cleaning, laundry, waste disposal and other maintenance services. The dwellers can also use all the services offered in the centre, such as restaurant and catering services, shops, spas, ski lifts, ski slopes and tracks.
Same-day visit
Same-day visits concern the activities of visitors who do not stay overnight in collective or private accommodation in the place (region, country) visited.
A same-day visit can be headed abroad (international same-day visit) or to the domestic country (domestic same-day visit). The definition of a same-day visit is derived from the World Tourism Organization's (WTO) definition for a same-day visitor, and it is also used in the EU tourism statistics.
A same-day visit can be headed abroad (international same-day visit) or to the domestic country (domestic same-day visit). The definition of a same-day visit is derived from the World Tourism Organization's (WTO) definition for a same-day visitor, and it is also used in the EU tourism statistics.
Same-day visitor
Same-day visitor refers to a visitor who does not spend the night in a collective or private accommodation in the place visited. An international same-day visitor is an international visitor who does not spend the night in the country visited. A domestic same-day visitor is a domestic visitor who does not spend the night in the place visited.
A same-day visitor stays less than 24 hours in the place/country visited, the arrival and the departure takes place within the same calendar day. Same-day visitors are also such cruise passengers who spend the night on board a ship and visit the destination place/country without overnighting there. In this case, ship is the place of departure of the same-day visitor.
A same-day visitor stays less than 24 hours in the place/country visited, the arrival and the departure takes place within the same calendar day. Same-day visitors are also such cruise passengers who spend the night on board a ship and visit the destination place/country without overnighting there. In this case, ship is the place of departure of the same-day visitor.
Short trip
In the tourism statistics of the EU (Eurostat) trips are broken down by duration into two main categories: short trips and long trips. Short trips consist of 1-3 nights and long trips of four or more nights. The maximum duration of a trip is 12 consecutive months. In the Finnish Travel Survey, the total number of nights spent (duration of trip) includes overnight travelling by boat/ferry, train or other vehicle.
Tourism
Tourism comprises the activities of persons travelling to and staying in places outside their usual environment for not more than 12 consecutive months for leisure, business and other purposes.
Tourism expenditure
Tourism expenditure refers to the total consumption expenditure made by a visitor, or on behalf of a visitor for goods and services during his/her trip and stay at the destination place (country). It also includes payments in advance or after the trip for services received during the trip. Payments for domestics or international passenger transport are also included in tourism expenditure (cf. Travel accounts in the Balance of Payments).
Tourism in neighbouring countries
In the Finnish Travel survey, tourism to neighbouring countries refers to tourism to the nearby geographic area. It also includes cruises outside the territorial waters of Finland in the Baltic Sea. The nearby countries of Finland consist of Sweden, Estonia, Russia, Norway, Denmark, Latvia and Lithuania. Tourism to neighbouring countries includes all kinds of visits: holiday and leisure trips, business and professional trips, as well as overnight trips and same-day visits.
Tourist
A tourist (overnight visitor) is a visitor who stays at least one night in a collective or private accommodation in the place visited. An international tourist is an international visitor who stays at least one night in the country visited. A domestic tourist refers to a domestic visitor who stays at least one night in the place visited.
A visitor who does not spent one night during the trip is called same-day visitor.
A visitor who does not spent one night during the trip is called same-day visitor.
Tourist accommodation
Tourist accommodation refers to any facility that regularly or occasionally provides overnight accommodation for tourists. Accommodation can be chargeable or free.
Trip
As a statistical unit of tourism, a trip depicts tourism from the standpoint of the generating place or country (the origin) and covers the whole period a person travels away from home (origin-based perspective).
Trip abroad
A trip (visit) abroad refers to a trip made by a resident of a given country outside the national borders of his/her country of residence and outside his/her usual environment for leisure, business or other reason. The maximum duration of stay in the destination country is 12 consecutive months. A trip is an operational statistical unit of outbound tourism and it is derived from the World Tourism Organization's definitions of 'outbound tourism' and 'international visitor'.
Trip to own holiday home
In the Finnish Travel survey, a trip to own holiday home is one type of leisure travel with free accommodation.
Usual environment
The usual environment of a person consists of the direct vicinity of his/her home and place of work or study and other places frequently visited (e.g. food shops, bank and other services). The concept of usual environment and, therefore, tourism has two dimensions: frequency and distance. Places which are frequently visited by a person (on a routine basis) are considered as part of the usual environment even though these places may be located at a considerable distance from the place of residence (e.g. weekly visits to one's own holiday home). On the other hand, places located close to the place of residence of a person are also part of the usual environment even if actual spots are rarely visited.
Visit to friends and relatives
Visits to friends and relatives (VFR) are so-called social visits. They are usually undertaken for relaxation, and they are often seen as a sub-category of leisure, recreation and holidays. The WTO's definition refers to the motive of the visit, and not to the mode of accommodation. In the classification by purpose they constitute a sub-category of leisure trips.
In the Finnish Travel survey visits to friends and relatives are a sub-gategory of leisure trips in which other leisure trips are combined (excl. visits to one's own holiday home). As a means of accommodation, staying with friends and relatives is classified into the category of private non-rental accommodation.
In the Finnish Travel survey visits to friends and relatives are a sub-gategory of leisure trips in which other leisure trips are combined (excl. visits to one's own holiday home). As a means of accommodation, staying with friends and relatives is classified into the category of private non-rental accommodation.
Visitor
A visitor is any person travelling to a place other than his/her usual environment and staying there for no longer than 12 consecutive months and whose main purpose of travel is other than the exercise of an activity remunerated from within the place visited. The term visitor (domestic and international) comprises tourists and same-day visitors.
In this connection remuneration refers to salary/wages or similar pay except for travelling expenses, daily expense or other minor compensations.
In this connection remuneration refers to salary/wages or similar pay except for travelling expenses, daily expense or other minor compensations.
Classifications
Accuracy, reliability and timeliness
Overall accuracy
Non-response is the main source of error in the statistics. As the non-response rate grows, the weighting coefficients increase. The respondents represent the entire target population even though the travel behaviour of non-responding persons is unknown and may differ from those having responded. The non-response rate is annually approximately 50 per cent.
The reporting of individual trips may also be affected by the respondent not remembering the trip or interpreting the definition of trip differently.
The reporting of individual trips may also be affected by the respondent not remembering the trip or interpreting the definition of trip differently.
Timeliness
Annual data is published within six months after the end of reference year. Preliminary data is published within 90 days after the end of reference period.
Punctuality
Preliminary data for 2019 were exceptionally not published. Apart from this, the information has been published as planned.
Completeness
The statistics fulfills all the requirements of the EU regulation on tourism statistics.
Sampling error
Variation coefficients for key indicators
| Indicator | Estimate (thousands of trips) | Variation coefficient |
| Participation in tourism: number of residents, aged 15 or over, having made at least 1 trip of at least 1 overnight stay (all age groups) | 4 090 | 0,009 |
| Age group 65 or over | 830 | 0,023 |
| All trips | 39 580 | 0,001 |
| Domestic trips | 29 100 | 0,006 |
| Trips abroad | 9 460 | 0,018 |
| Leisure trips | 33 070 | 0,004 |
| Business trips | 5 510 | 0,025 |
| Domestic trips in paid accommodation | 9 580 | 0,017 |
| Domestic trips in free accommodation | 19 220 | 0,008 |
Non-sampling error
The sample contains roughly 2 per cent overcoverage.
Over-coverage rate / A2
Overcoverage is less than 1 %
Unit non-response rate / A4
| Indicator | Number of units per year |
| Ineligible units | 535 |
| Eligible units | 27 665 |
| Non-contacts | 9 264 |
| Refusals | 4 083 |
| Other types of non-response | 779 |
| Total non-response | 14 126 |
Comparability
Comparability - geographical
The sample is drawn from a regionally sorted population frame, ensuring that sparsely populated regions will have fewer target persons than densely populated regions. The target person’s area of residence will also be considered in the post-stratification and calculation of coefficients for the target person.
Comparability - over time
The statistics have been made regularly since 1991. From 1991 to 1994, Statistics Finland produced the statistics on assignment of the Finnish Tourist Board. These years are mutually comparable, because uniform methods were used. In 1995, the statistics were transferred completely to Statistics Finland. The content and methodological changes started in the same year have had an effect on the comparability of data between 1995 and 1999. The data content and the calculation and data collection methods remained unchanged from 2000 to 2009. Due to changes made to the data collection in 2010 and 2012, the figures are not fully comparable with previous years.
Starting from the beginning of 2000, the survey has been made centrally every month together with the Consumer Survey (now Consumer Confidence). Prior to this, the data were collected in connection with those for Statistics Finland's Labour Force Survey, quarterly between 1996 and 1999 and before that three times a year.
In 2000, the maximum length of a trip changed from 90 to 365 days according to the guidelines of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO). The fact that starting from the statistical reference year 2000, target persons have been asked about trips that ended during the survey period instead of trips that started, has also weakened the comparability of the data somewhat.
The data collection was changed in 2010 so that the survey period of the interview month was shortened from two months to one month, that is, the inquiry concerns only trips ended during the month immediately before the interview month instead of the two previous months as before. Previously, final data on the numbers of trips in each month were obtained as an average for two samples, after the change the figures are based on one sample.
The time series is comparable from 2012. From 2012 onwards, the statistics on tourism are compiled in accordance with the Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council (EU) No 692/2011. At the same time, the population was extended from people aged 15 to 74 to those aged 15 to 84, more accurate weighting coefficients were introduced and significant changes were made to the interview questionnaire. On account of the revision, the data are not fully comparable with previous years. The extension of the age group increased the sums by group of trips by two to five per cent. The specification of the weighting coefficient increased the sums by group of trips by two to three per cent. It is difficult to define the effect of changed questions on the results obtained. The deduction of the type of trip from the responses given (instead of the respondent's own classification) has moved part of the trips to another group. The revised instructions aim to lower the amount of travelling belonging to the usual environment in the statistics.
The under-reporting of trips caused by the three-month reference period of the 2019 survey has been corrected with the help of inflating coefficients calculated from annual changes in other data for types of trips and destination countries of trips abroad. The data on 2019 describing numbers of trips are therefore comparable with the previous years. Data on persons having travelled are comparable between different years.
Starting from the beginning of 2000, the survey has been made centrally every month together with the Consumer Survey (now Consumer Confidence). Prior to this, the data were collected in connection with those for Statistics Finland's Labour Force Survey, quarterly between 1996 and 1999 and before that three times a year.
In 2000, the maximum length of a trip changed from 90 to 365 days according to the guidelines of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO). The fact that starting from the statistical reference year 2000, target persons have been asked about trips that ended during the survey period instead of trips that started, has also weakened the comparability of the data somewhat.
The data collection was changed in 2010 so that the survey period of the interview month was shortened from two months to one month, that is, the inquiry concerns only trips ended during the month immediately before the interview month instead of the two previous months as before. Previously, final data on the numbers of trips in each month were obtained as an average for two samples, after the change the figures are based on one sample.
The time series is comparable from 2012. From 2012 onwards, the statistics on tourism are compiled in accordance with the Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council (EU) No 692/2011. At the same time, the population was extended from people aged 15 to 74 to those aged 15 to 84, more accurate weighting coefficients were introduced and significant changes were made to the interview questionnaire. On account of the revision, the data are not fully comparable with previous years. The extension of the age group increased the sums by group of trips by two to five per cent. The specification of the weighting coefficient increased the sums by group of trips by two to three per cent. It is difficult to define the effect of changed questions on the results obtained. The deduction of the type of trip from the responses given (instead of the respondent's own classification) has moved part of the trips to another group. The revised instructions aim to lower the amount of travelling belonging to the usual environment in the statistics.
The under-reporting of trips caused by the three-month reference period of the 2019 survey has been corrected with the help of inflating coefficients calculated from annual changes in other data for types of trips and destination countries of trips abroad. The data on 2019 describing numbers of trips are therefore comparable with the previous years. Data on persons having travelled are comparable between different years.
As a result of the amendment to statistical legislation (3 February 2023/145), Statistics Finland has more exhaustive contact information than before, which has improved response rates in data collections. The change is visible in the statistics starting from August 2023.
In the statistics on Finnish travel the change is especially noticeable in the increased response rate among young people and people of working age. The travel habits of these respondents who could previously not be reached differ from the habits of the persons having responded to the inquiry in the past. Thus, the results describe the travel habits of different population groups more extensively, although this is visible in the statistics as a decrease in the number of trips compared with previous years.
The annual survey on persons having travelled was made in connection with the Labour Force Survey between 1991 and 2011 and after that as annexed to the Finnish Travel Survey.Coherence - cross domain
Finnish travel compiles statistics on the demand for tourism. The supply of tourism in Finland is described in Statistics Finland's monthly and annually published Accommodation statistics. The statistics contain data on the accommodation capacity of hotels and its use and overnight stays at accommodation establishments broken down by the visitors' country of residence. Finnish travel and Accommodation statistics partly overlap for domestic trips in paid accommodation. There are, however, differences in the target groups between these two. Accommodation statistics include only establishments with at least 20 beds while Finnish travel includes all paid accommodation used by Finns. Accommodation statistics include overnight stays by Finns of all ages, while Finnish travel includes only overnight stays by Finns aged 15 – 84 years.
Tourism satellite account (TSA) is a statistical system in which the economic effects of tourism are described in a versatile and comprehensive manner. The figures for tourism accounts are published on the web pages of Visit Finland's statistical service Rudolf.
Statistics on passenger transport between Finland and foreign countries are compiled in Statistics Finland's statistics on international sea transport and air transport. However, these statistics do not report the country of residence of the passengers. The Association of Finnish Travel Agents (AFTA) publishes yearly on its website statistics on leisure package tours made by air and their market shares, which provide information about the number of trips bought through travel agencies by country of destination.
Tourism satellite account (TSA) is a statistical system in which the economic effects of tourism are described in a versatile and comprehensive manner. The figures for tourism accounts are published on the web pages of Visit Finland's statistical service Rudolf.
Statistics on passenger transport between Finland and foreign countries are compiled in Statistics Finland's statistics on international sea transport and air transport. However, these statistics do not report the country of residence of the passengers. The Association of Finnish Travel Agents (AFTA) publishes yearly on its website statistics on leisure package tours made by air and their market shares, which provide information about the number of trips bought through travel agencies by country of destination.
Coherence - sub-annual and annual statistics
Number of trips in the triannual preliminary releases add up to the number of trips in the annual release.
Source data and data collections
Source data
The population of the statistics comprises people aged 15 to 84 permanently resident in Finland according to the Population Information System. However, persons permanently living in institutions are excluded from the population. The samples are drawn with systematic sampling, and they represent the population comprehensively with respect to age, sex, area of residence and native language. Working-age people (aged 25 to 64) are drawn to the sample slightly more often than young people (aged 15 to 24) and pensioners (aged 65 to 84) because the highest number of trips is made by working-age people.
The sample size of the inquiry is 28,200 persons per year, that is, 2,350 persons per month. In 2019 the sample size was 16,000 persons per year. In 2012 to 2018, the sample size was 28,200 persons per year. Until 2018, the same sample was also used in the data collection of the monthly statistics on consumer confidence.
The response data are expanded to the whole population with weighting coefficients. From 2012 onwards, the weighting coefficient for each month is expanded to the population of the month (preliminary data on population structure). The strata used are the respondent's age group, sex and area of residence (major region). Before 2012, only sex was used as the stratum.
The reference period of the monthly survey was extended from one month in 2012 to 2018 to three previous months in the 2019 survey. The aim of the change was to obtain more travel observations from each respondent than before. At the same time, however, fewer trips were obtained by month. This is assumed to be because either not all trips during three months were remembered to be reported or their reporting was felt too heavy especially for those who travelled much. This sub-reporting concerned especially short trips, business trips, and various trips made with guest and other free accommodation.
In order to maintain the comparability of the annual numbers of trips, the weight coefficients of trips were raised by type of trip and for trips abroad by country-specific coefficients. Source data outside the statistics describing annual level change were used to determine these inflating coefficients. Statistics Finland's accommodation statistics were used especially for trips with paid accommodation in Finland. For Finnish residents' trips abroad, statistical data based on data on telecommunications operators were used on visits by destination country, statistics on package tours of the Association of Finnish Travel Agents, passenger statistics on sea transport, and for Estonian tourism, statistics on the number of passengers published by the Port of Tallinn.
A reference period of one month was resumed in the 2020 monthly survey.
The sample size of the inquiry is 28,200 persons per year, that is, 2,350 persons per month. In 2019 the sample size was 16,000 persons per year. In 2012 to 2018, the sample size was 28,200 persons per year. Until 2018, the same sample was also used in the data collection of the monthly statistics on consumer confidence.
The response data are expanded to the whole population with weighting coefficients. From 2012 onwards, the weighting coefficient for each month is expanded to the population of the month (preliminary data on population structure). The strata used are the respondent's age group, sex and area of residence (major region). Before 2012, only sex was used as the stratum.
The reference period of the monthly survey was extended from one month in 2012 to 2018 to three previous months in the 2019 survey. The aim of the change was to obtain more travel observations from each respondent than before. At the same time, however, fewer trips were obtained by month. This is assumed to be because either not all trips during three months were remembered to be reported or their reporting was felt too heavy especially for those who travelled much. This sub-reporting concerned especially short trips, business trips, and various trips made with guest and other free accommodation.
In order to maintain the comparability of the annual numbers of trips, the weight coefficients of trips were raised by type of trip and for trips abroad by country-specific coefficients. Source data outside the statistics describing annual level change were used to determine these inflating coefficients. Statistics Finland's accommodation statistics were used especially for trips with paid accommodation in Finland. For Finnish residents' trips abroad, statistical data based on data on telecommunications operators were used on visits by destination country, statistics on package tours of the Association of Finnish Travel Agents, passenger statistics on sea transport, and for Estonian tourism, statistics on the number of passengers published by the Port of Tallinn.
A reference period of one month was resumed in the 2020 monthly survey.
Data collection
The data collection is a sample-based inquiry conducted with a web questionnaire or alternatively as a telephone interview. The target persons are primarily asked to respond to the inquiry with a web questionnaire. If data are not obtained, the statistical interviewer will contact the target person by telephone. The data are collected between the February of the statistical reference year and the January of the year following it. The data for each monthly inquiry are collected during the following month. The data for the annual inquiry on persons having travelled are collected in connection with the last monthly inquiry of the year.
Frequency of data collection
The data for the statistics are collected with an inquiry consisting of two parts. The monthly inquiry collects data on trips made by Finnish residents during the previous month, their numbers and characteristics. In 2019 the data were collected on trips made during the previous three months.
In addition to the last monthly inquiry of the year, a so-called annual inquiry is made, where yes/no questions are used to establish the numbers of persons having made different types of trips during the statistical reference year.
In addition to the last monthly inquiry of the year, a so-called annual inquiry is made, where yes/no questions are used to establish the numbers of persons having made different types of trips during the statistical reference year.
Cost and burden
The median response time for telephone interviews was one minute for persons without any trips. These represented roughly half of all respondents. The median was four minutes for persons who reported one trip. The median time for all respondents was nearly three minutes.
Methods
Data compilation
The response data are expanded to the whole population with weighting coefficients. From 2012 onwards, the weighting coefficient for each month is expanded to the number of population of the month (preliminary data on population structure). The strata used are the respondent's age group, sex and area of residence (major region). Before 2012, only sex was used as the stratum.
The 2019 weighting coefficients per trip were raised by using annual changes by type of trip and, for foreign trips, also coefficients by country based on sources outside the statistics.
The 2019 weighting coefficients per trip were raised by using annual changes by type of trip and, for foreign trips, also coefficients by country based on sources outside the statistics.
Data validation
Answers are accepted on the data collection form only within set boundary values. Certain information, such as type of trip, is deducted from the answers provided and need not to be asked from the respondent. There are various logical checks, such as the number of nights by type of accommodation, which must be equal to the total number of nights.
The collected data are validated after the data collection and missing information is imputed and potential errors and inconsistencies are corrected. These are such as missing or ‘don’t know’ values for certain key questions and incredible information related to destination country, trip duration or primary means of transportation and their combinations.
The collected data are validated after the data collection and missing information is imputed and potential errors and inconsistencies are corrected. These are such as missing or ‘don’t know’ values for certain key questions and incredible information related to destination country, trip duration or primary means of transportation and their combinations.
Principles and outlines
Contact organisation
Statistics Finland
Contact organisation unit
Social Statistics
Legal acts and other agreements
The compilation of statistics is guided by the Statistics Act. The Statistics Act contains provisions on collection of data, processing of data and the obligation to provide data. Besides the Statistics Act, the Data Protection Act and the Act on the Openness of Government Activities are applied to processing of data when producing statistics.
Statistics Finland compiles statistics in line with the EU’s regulations applicable to statistics, which steer the statistical agencies of all EU Member States.
Further information: Statistical legislation
Confidentiality - policy
The data protection of data collected for statistical purposes is guaranteed in accordance with the requirements of the Statistics Act (280/2004), the Act on the Openness of Government Activities (621/1999), the EU's General Data Protection Regulation (EU) 2016/679 and the Data Protection Act (1050/2018). The data materials are protected at all stages of processing with the necessary physical and technical solutions. Statistics Finland has compiled detailed directions and instructions for confidential processing of the data. Employees have access only to the data essential for their duties. The premises where unit-level data are processed are not accessible to outsiders. Members of the personnel have signed a pledge of secrecy upon entering the service. Violation of data protection is punishable.
Further information: Data protection | Statistics Finland (stat.fi)
Confidentiality - data treatment
An individual cannot be identified from the data. The data is inflated to basic population and number of trips is presented at the accuracy of one thousand.
Release policy
Statistics Finland publishes new statistical data at 8 am on weekdays in its web service. The release times of statistics are given in advance in the release calendar available in the web service. The data are public after they have been updated in the web service.
Further information: Publication principles for statistics at Statistics Finland
Data sharing
According to EU regulation on tourism statistics unit level data on trips is transmitted to Eurostat.
Accessibility and clarity
Statistical data are published as database tables in the StatFin database. The database is the primary publishing site of data, and new data are updated first there. When releasing statistical data, existing database tables can be updated with new data or completely new database tables can be published.
In addition to statistical data published in the StatFin database, a release on the key data is usually published in the web service. If the release contains data concerning several reference periods (e.g. monthly and annual data), a review bringing together these data is published in the web service. Database tables updated at the time of publication are listed both in the release and in the review. In some cases, statistical data can also be published as mere database releases in the StatFin database. No release or review is published in connection with these database releases.
Releases and database tables are published in three languages, in Finnish, Swedish and English. The language versions of releases may have more limited content than in Finnish.
Information about changes in the publication schedules of releases and database tables and about corrections are given as change releases in the web service.
Micro-data access
Unit-level data can be obtained for scientific research by applying for a licence to use statistical data. The data contain no identifying personal data.
Data revision - policy
Revisions – i.e. improvements in the accuracy of statistical data already published – are a normal feature of statistical production and result in improved quality of statistics. The principle is that statistical data are based on the best available data and information concerning the statistical phenomenon. On the other hand, the revisions are communicated as transparently as possible in advance. Advance communication ensures that the users can prepare for the data revisions.
The reason why data in statistical releases become revised is often caused by the data becoming supplemented. Then the new, revised statistical figure is based on a wider information basis and describes the phenomenon more accurately than before.
Revisions of statistical data may also be caused by the calculation method used, such as annual benchmarking or updating of weight structures. Changes of base years and used classifications may also cause revisions to data.
User needs
The data of the statistics are used for monitoring domestic travel and trips abroad made by Finnish residents. The data are intended particularly for the use of central government, tourism enterprises and organisations and researchers. Within central government, the data are mainly used for the balance of payment calculations. The data from the statistics are also reported to Eurostat, the Statistical Office of the European Communities in accordance with the Regulation on European statistics on tourism (EU) No 692/2011.
User satisfaction
There are regular meetings and discussions on data needs with users within the central government. The collected data are mainly based on the EU Regulation but it is also possible to include questions catering to national data needs in the survey.
Quality assessment
Due to the nature of a sample survey, the statistics contain uncertainty due to random variability and non-response. The statistics are fairly reliable concerning the total number of domestic trips and trips abroad on the annual level but uncertainty increases when using breakdowns related to time period, area or type of trip. Aggregates of under 100,000 trips are not published at all due to uncertainty.
Quality assurance
Quality management requires comprehensive guidance of activities. The quality management framework of the field of statistics is the European Statistics Code of Practice (CoP). The quality criteria of Official Statistics of Finland are also compatible with the European Statistics Code of Practice.
Further information: Quality management | Statistics Finland (stat.fi)
User access
Data are released to all users at the same time. Statistical data may only be handled at Statistics Finland and information on them may be given before release only by persons involved in the production of the statistics concerned or who need the data of the statistics concerned in their own work before the data are published.
Further information: Publication principles for statistics
Unless otherwise separately stated in connection with the product, data or service concerned, Statistics Finland is the producer of the data and the owner of the copyright. The terms of use for statistical data.