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Published: 10 April 2015

Finns' travel to Southern Europe increased in 2014

According to Statistics Finland's survey, Finns made 7.9 million different leisure trips abroad in 2014. Trips to Southern Europe increased their popularity. The number of domestic leisure trips with paid accommodation numbered nearly six million. The destination of 1.1 million of them was Uusimaa and that of 0.7 million Lapland. Business trips in Finland decreased but the number of business trips abroad grew.

Finnish travel in 2004 to 2014

Finnish residents' leisure trips abroad increased slightly in 2014. Fewer trips than in 2013 were made to Estonia, but it maintained its insurmountable top position as a travel destination for Finns. Overnight cruises to Estonia increased, but day cruises and trips with overnight stay in the destination country decreased. The development for Sweden was reversed. Overnight cruises to Sweden decreased, while same-day trips and trips with overnight stay in the destination country increased. Of same-day trips to Sweden, a good one-third were day cruises.

Trips to Spain and especially to the Canary Islands increased. Finns also travelled more and more to Italy and Greece. France and Germany lost in popularity.

Trips with overnight stay to Russia decreased by 25 per cent. In terms of same-day trips, the development was totally reversed and they increased heavily as the year drew to a close.

The number of trips heading outside Europe increased, and the United States became the favourite.

Finnish residents’ most popular destinations for leisure trips with overnight stay in the destination country in 2014 and 2013

Ten per cent fewer domestic trips with paid accommodation were made than one year earlier. The destination of one in five of these trips was Uusimaa and one in six was Lapland. Compared with the previous year, nights spent at hotels decreased by six per cent and nights spent at rented cottages by 14 per cent.

The most popular destination for trips with free accommodation was also Uusimaa. The next most popular destinations with free accommodation were Pirkanmaa, Varsinais-Suomi and North Ostrobothnia.

Business trips in Finland decreased but the number of business trips abroad grew from the year before.

Leisure trips of an average Finn in 2014:
     1.3 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, 15,472 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 2014 are based on 1,264 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 029 551 3254, Taru Tamminen 029 551 2243, liikenne.matkailu@stat.fi

Director in charge: Hannele Orjala

Publication in pdf-format (372.7 kB)

Reviews

• 1. Trips abroad (10.4.2015)
• 2. Domestic trips (10.4.2015)
• 3. Booking of leisure trips (10.4.2015)
• 4. The volume of trips has changed a lot in ten years (10.4.2015)
• 5. Ninety-one per cent of Finns made at least one trip in 2014 (10.4.2015)

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 2014 (10.4.2015)
• Appendix table 2. Leisure trips abroad (overnight in destination country) by most popular destinations in 2014 (10.4.2015)
• Appendix table 3. Business trips abroad by destination country in 2014 (10.4.2015)
• Appendix table 4. Trips abroad by cause and destination in 2014 and its change (10.4.2015)
• Appendix table 5. Bookings of transportation via internet in 2014 (10.4.2015)
• Appendix table 6. Bookings of accommodation via internet in 2014 (10.4.2015)

Quality descriptions

• Quality description: Finnish Travel 2014 (10.4.2015)

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Updated 10.4.2015