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Published: 15 September 2016

Nights spent by resident tourists increased by 3.7 per cent in July 2016

Overnight stays by resident tourists increased by 3.7 per cent in July from last year and Finnish accommodation establishments recorded nearly 2.3 million of them. In contrast, the number of nights spent by non-resident tourists decreased by 5.6 per cent and they spent 711,000 nights at accommodation establishments. A total of nearly three million overnight stays were recorded at Finnish accommodation establishments in July 2016, which was 1.3 per cent more than in July 2015. 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.

Change in overnight stays in July 2016/2015, %

Large international events increased the number of foreign tourists in July 2015, when overnight stays by visitors from the most important countries of inbound tourism to Finland went up clearly. There were no corresponding events in July 2016, so considerably fewer overnight stays of non-resident tourists were recorded than one year earlier. The biggest decreases in overnight stays were recorded in the statistics for Swiss visitors, down by 33.7 per cent, and for Norwegians, down by 25.0 per cent, their overnight stays amounting to 29,000 to 34,000 nights. Decreases of over ten per cent were recorded for Russian, British and Dutch visitors. Swedish visitors were the biggest group of foreign tourists at Finnish accommodation establishments with their 114,500 overnight stays in July 2016. However, their overnight stays decreased by 3.7 per cent from the year before. Germans came next. Altogether, 82,000 overnight stays were recorded for them at Finnish accommodation establishments, which was 9.5 per cent down from July 2015. Russians came third with nearly 76,000 nights spent, which was 14.3 per cent lower than twelve months earlier.

The biggest growth percentages were recorded for Mediterranean countries. Overnight stays by Spanish tourists increased by 24.2 per cent and their total recorded number of nights at accommodation establishments was nearly 15,000. Almost 17,000 overnight stays were recorded for Italian tourists, which was one fifth more than one year earlier.

Tourism from Asia has increased throughout the year and in July overnight stays by Asians also grew by 4.1 per cent. Overnight stays by Chinese tourists rose to nearly 31,000, which was 11.6 per cent up on July 2015. Nearly 23,000 overnight stays were recorded for Japanese visitors at accommodation establishments. The number was almost the same as one year before; growing by just 0.3 per cent.

By region, the total number of overnight stays at accommodation establishments increased in July most in the regions of Central Ostrobothnia, up by 14.3 per cent, and South Karelia, up by 10.7 per cent. Growth in Lapland amounted to 9.6 per cent. The number of overnight stays in both North Ostrobothnia and Kanta-Häme grew by around nine per cent. The biggest drop in overnight stays was recorded in Ostrobothnia, 24.9 per cent, and the number of overnight stays recorded in North Karelia was 8.0 per cent lower than over year earlier. Overnight stays in the whole country increased by 1.3 per cent from last year.

Change in overnight stays in July by region 2016 / 2015, %

Overnight stays in hotels increased by 0.9 per cent in July

In July 2016, the total number of nights spent in hotels was good two million, which was 0.9 per cent higher than twelve months earlier. Overnight stays by resident tourists rose to nearly 1.5 million, which was 2.4 per cent more than in July 2015. Nearly 530,000 overnight stays were recorded for foreign tourists. The number was 3.2 per cent lower than one year earlier.

The occupancy rate of hotel rooms in the whole country was 62.8 per cent in July. One year earlier, it was 61.8 per cent. Among the regions, the highest occupancy rates of hotel rooms were measured in Varsinais-Suomi, 76.4 per cent, and South Ostrobothnia, 75.9 per cent. In Turku, the hotel room occupancy rate rose to 81.4 per cent and in Seinäjoki to 85.9 per cent. The hotel room occupancy rate in Helsinki was 78.5 per cent.

In July, the realised average price of a hotel room was EUR 95.80 per day for the whole country. Twelve months previously, it was EUR 88.25.

Hotel room occupancy rate and the monthly average price

Total number of nights spent at all accommodation establishments grew by 1.5 per cent in January to July

Between January and July 2016, the number of nights spent at accommodation establishments in Finland totalled good 12 million. This was 1.5 per cent higher than in the corresponding period one year earlier. The number of nights spent by non-resident tourists increased by 1.7 per cent and that of nights spent by resident tourists by 1.5 per cent. In all, 3.3 million overnight stays were recorded for non-resident tourists and good 8.8 million overnight stays for resident tourists.

The number of nights spent by Russian visitors at accommodation establishments in Finland totalled 414,500 in January to July, which was 18.6 per cent down on the respective period of last year. However, they were, by far, the largest group of foreign visitors in January to July, as German visitors came next with nearly 340,000 overnight stays. Overnight stays of Germans went down by 1.3 per cent. The third largest group was Swedish tourists for whom accommodation establishments recorded close on 336,000 nights spent. Their overnight stays decreased by 1.6 per cent from the respective time period of last year.

British visitors spent nearly 220,000 nights at accommodation establishments and French tourists 162,000. Nights spent by British tourists went down by 1.3 per cent, whereas those spent by French tourists went up by 9.0 per cent in January to July 2016. Overnight stays by visitors from the United States and Spain both increased by around 16 per cent. Visitors from the United States stayed at accommodation establishments good 137,000 nights, while close on 61,000 overnight stays were recorded for Spanish visitors. A total of nearly 119,000 overnight stays were recorded for Dutch visitors, up by 9.9 per cent from the previous year.

Among the most important countries of inbound tourism to Finland, overnight stays by Chinese visitors increased most during the January to July period. Nights spent by Chinese visitors rose to nearly 120,000, which was 21.6 per cent more than in the same period twelve months earlier.

Change in overnight stays in January-July 2016/2015, %

Source: Accommodation Statistics. Statistics Finland

Inquiries: Marjut Tuominen 029 551 3556, Kari Keränen 029 551 3208, liikenne.matkailu@stat.fi

Director in charge: Mari Ylä-Jarkko

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Appendix tables

• Appendix table 1.1. Capacity and its utilization, July 2016 (15.9.2016)
• Appendix table 1.2. Capacity and its utilization, January-July 2016 (15.9.2016)
• Appendix table 2.1. Nights spent in all establishments, July 2016 (15.9.2016)
• Appendix table 2.2. Nights spent in all establishments, January-July 2016 (15.9.2016)
• Appendix table 3.1. Hotel capacity and capacity utilization, July 2016 (15.9.2016)
• Appendix table 3.2. Hotel capacity and capacity utilization, January-July 2016 (15.9.2016)
• Appendix table 4.1. Nights spent in hotels, July 2016 (15.9.2016)
• Appendix table 4.2. Nights spent in hotels, January-July 2016 (15.9.2016)
• Appendix table 5.1. Visitor arrivals and nights spent by country of residence, July 2016 (15.9.2016)
• Appendix table 5.2. Visitor arrivals and nights spent by country of residence, January-July 2016 (15.9.2016)
• Appendix table 6. Nights spent in all establishments, 2016 (15.9.2016)

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Updated 15.9.2016