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Published: 10 April 2014

Finns' travel to Central Europe increased in 2013

According to Statistics Finland's survey, Finns made 7.8 million different leisure trips abroad in 2013. Trips to Central Europe increased their popularity. The number of domestic leisure trips with paid accommodation numbered nearly 6.6 million. The destination of one million of these trips was Lapland and Kainuu. Business trips both in Finland and abroad decreased from the previous year.

Finnish travel 2000 to 2013

Finnish residents' leisure trips abroad did not change in absolute numbers in 2013. As expected, Estonia maintained its leading position as the destination for Finns. Both day and overnight cruises to Estonia increased but trips with overnight stay in the destination country decreased. The development was also similar for Sweden. Of same-day trips to Sweden, nearly one-quarter were day cruises.

Spain maintained its position as the third most popular destination for Finns. Trips to the Canary Islands decreased slightly but trips to Continental Spain increased by 21 per cent from the year before.

Finns travelled eagerly to Central Europe, in particular to Germany, France and Great Britain. Our neighbouring country Russia increased its popularity as a travel destination for Finns. The number of trips heading outside Europe decreased. The number of trips to Thailand fell by 11 per cent from the previous year.

Finnish residents’ favourite destination countries for leisure trips with overnight stay the destination in 2013 and 2012

Three per cent more domestic trips with paid accommodation were made than one year earlier. The destination of one in six of these trips was Uusimaa and one in nine was Pirkanmaa or Lapland. Compared with the previous year, nights spent at hotels decreased slightly but nights spent at camp sites and rented cottages increased considerably.

The most popular destination for trips with free accommodation was Uusimaa. Numerous tips were also made to Pirkanmaa, Varsinais-Suomi and North Ostrobothnia.

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

Leisure trips of an average Finn in 2013:
     1.5 domestic leisure trips with paid accommodation,
     1.3 trips abroad that included overnight stay in the country of destination,
     0.5 same-day trips abroad or cruises to neighbouring areas.

Data collection

The data concerning travel derive from Statistics Finland's monthly Finnish Travel sample survey. In all, 16,934 persons aged 15 to 84 permanently resident in Finland were interviewed for the numbers of trips.

The numbers of persons who had travelled during the year were collected with an additional survey carried out in connection with the December interview concerning travelling. The data describing 2013 are based on 1,312 interviews.

Additional tables are found in the Px–Web database at:
http://pxweb2.stat.fi/database/StatFin/lii/smat/smat_en.asp

Source: Finnish Travel, Statistics Finland

Inquiries: Mervi Härkönen 09 1734 3254 (9.6.2014 -> 029 551 3254), Taru Tamminen 09 1734 2243 (9.6.2014 -> 029 551 2243), liikenne.matkailu@stat.fi

Director in charge: Hannele Orjala

Publication in pdf-format (378.7 kB)

Reviews

• 1. Neighbouring countries long-standing favourites for Finns (10.4.2014)
• 2. Central Europe increased its popularity (10.4.2014)
• 3. Taking a boat abroad (10.4.2014)
• 4. Lapland and Kainuu the risers of domestic paid leisure trips (10.4.2014)
• 5. Free accommodation in Uusimaa (10.4.2014)
• 6. Number of business trips decreased from 2012 (10.4.2014)
• 7. Accommodation and tickets for leisure trips are mainly booked online (10.4.2014)
• 8. Leisure package tours maintain their popularity (10.4.2014)
• 9. Travelling has changed a lot in ten years (10.4.2014)
• 10. Ninety-one per cent of Finns made at least one trip in 2013 (10.4.2014)

Tables

Tables in databases

Pick the data you need into tables, view the data as graphs, or download the data for your use.

• Database tables and their variables
• Archived tables

Appendix tables

• Appendix table 1. Overnight stay trips by Finnish residents in 2005 to 2013 (10.4.2014)
• Appendix table 2. Leisure trips abroad (overnight in destination country) by most popular destinations in 2013 (10.4.2014)
• Appendix table 3. Business trips abroad by destination country in 2013 (10.4.2014)
• Appendix table 4. Trips abroad by cause and destination in 2013 and its change (10.4.2014)
• Appendix table 5. Bookings of transportation via internet in 2013 (10.4.2014)
• Appendix table 6. Bookings of accommodation via internet in 2013 (10.4.2014)

Quality descriptions

• Quality description: Finnish Travel 2013 (10.4.2014)

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Updated 10.4.2014