Home > Statistics > Accommodation statistics > 2012 > April > Nights spent by foreign tourists in Finland up by 5 per cent in April 2012

Published: 21 June 2012

Nights spent by foreign tourists in Finland up by 5 per cent in April 2012

The number of recorded nights spent by foreign tourists at Finnish accommodation establishments in April 2012 was 318,000, which was five per cent more than one year earlier. In contrast, the number of nights spent by resident tourists at accommodation establishments went down by two per cent and totalled close on 1.1 million in April 2012. The total number of nights spent remained on level with the previous year and altogether 1.4 million overnight stays were recorded at accommodation establishments. These figures are preliminary data from Statistics Finland’s statistics on accommodation establishments and they have been collected from accommodation establishments with at least 20 beds or caravan pitches with electricity connection, and youth hostels.

Change in overnight stays in April 2012/2011, %

The prolonged growth in the number of nights spent by Russian tourists continued in April 2012. A total of 76,000 overnight stays at Finnish accommodation establishments were recorded for them, which was 13 per cent more than one year before. Swedish and German visitors came next. Swedes spent 34,000 nights, which, however, was still one per cent less than twelve months earlier. By contrast, overnight stays recorded for German visitors increased by nine per cent and totalled 28,000 in April 2012. Visitors from Britain were the fourth largest group with 22,000 overnight stays. This was one per cent less than in the year before. However, overnight stays by Norwegian tourists increased by 24 per cent and those by Estonian tourists by 19 per cent. Good 15,000 overnight stays at accommodation establishments were recorded for both of them. Smaller changes took place in the nights spent by visitors from the other most important countries of inbound tourism to Finland.

By region, the total number of overnight stays in April increased most in Central Finland, up by 22 per cent. The number of overnight stays grew by 19 per cent in South Karelia and by seven per cent in Satakunta. Six per cent more overnight stays than in April 2011 were recorded in Kanta-Häme. Growth of three to four per cent was reached in Päijät-Häme and Ostrobothnia. Overnight stays decreased most in South Ostrobothnia, by 17 per cent, and in Åland, by 14 per cent. Overnight stays in the whole country remained on level with April 2011.

Change in overnight stays in April by region 2012 / 2011, %

Number of nights spent in hotels almost equal to April 2011

The total number of nights spent in hotels rose to 1.2 million in April 2012, which was almost the same as one year before. Overnight stays by foreign tourists increased by four per cent and hotels recorded a total of 287,000 of them. Recorded nights spent by resident tourists in hotels numbered 899,000. Their number was nearly two per cent down from April 2011.

The occupancy rate of hotel rooms was 47.5 per cent in April. One year earlier, it was 48.2 per cent. Among the regions, the highest occupancy rates of hotel rooms were measured in Uusimaa, 55.5 per cent, and Central Finland, 54.1 per cent. In Jyväskylä, the hotel room occupancy rate was 65.8 per cent and in Vantaa 63.6 per cent. Hotel room occupancy rate in Helsinki was 59.2 per cent.

In April, the realised average price of a hotel room was EUR 90.29 per day for the whole country. Twelve months previously it was EUR 87.87.

Hotel room occupancy rate and the monthly average price

Total number of nights spent at all accommodation establishments grew by 5 per cent in January to April 2012

Over January to April 2012, the number of nights spent at accommodation establishments in Finland totalled six million, which was five per cent up on the same period of last year. Overnight stays by foreign tourists went up by 13 per cent and accommodation establishments recorded a total of 1.8 million of them. Overnight stays by resident tourists numbered 4.2 million, which was 1.5 per cent more than in January to April 2011.

Overnight stays recorded at Finnish accommodation establishments for Russian visitors in January to April numbered 590,000, which was one-fifth up on the same period one year earlier. German and British visitors came next. Overnight stays by German visitors increased by eight per cent and numbered 146,000. Visitors from Britain spent nearly 138,000 nights at accommodation establishments. The number was 11.5 per cent higher than twelve months back. Overnight stays by Swedes numbered 115,000, which was one per cent more than in the January to April period of 2011. The number of nights spent by French visitors was good 98,000, up by six per cent from one year back. The number of nights spent by Estonian visitors rose to nearly 80,000, which was 18.5 per cent up on the January to April period of 2011. However, the biggest increase of 40 per cent was recorded in overnight stays by Japanese visitors, who spent 56,000 nights at accommodation establishments.

Change in overnight stays in January-April 2012/2011, %

Source: Accommodation Statistics 2012. Statistics Finland

Inquiries: Marjut Tuominen 09 1734 3556, Kari Keränen 09 1734 3208, liikenne.matkailu@stat.fi

Director in charge: Hannele Orjala

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Appendix tables

• Appendix table 1. Capacity and its utilization, April 2012 (21.6.2012)
• Appendix table 2. Nights spend in all establishments, April 2012 (21.6.2012)
• Appendix table 3. Hotel capacity and capacity utilization, April 2012 (21.6.2012)
• Appendix table 4. Nights spend in hotels, April 2012 (21.6.2012)
• Appendix table 5. Visitor arrivals and nights spend by country of residence, April 2012 (21.6.2012)
• Appendix table 6. Nights spend in all establishments, 2012 (21.6.2012)

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Updated 21.6.2012