Home > Statistics > Finnish Travel > 2015 > Finns' travel to Central Europe increased in 2015

Published: 30 March 2016

Finns' travel to Central Europe increased in 2015

According to Statistics Finland's survey, Finns made 8.1 million different leisure trips abroad in 2015. Trips to Central Europe and Asia increased their popularity. The number of domestic leisure trips with paid accommodation numbered 6.4 million. The destination of 1.2 million of them was Uusimaa and that of 0.6 million North Ostrobothnia. Business travel in Finland decreased slightly but business trips abroad were roughly on level with the previous year.

Finnish travel in 2005 to 2015

Finnish residents' leisure trips abroad increased in 2015. More trips than in 2014 were made to Estonia and it maintained its insurmountable top position as a travel destination for Finns. Overnight cruises to Estonia decreased, while same-day cruises and trips with overnight stay in the destination country increased.

The development for Sweden was reversed. Overnight cruises to Sweden increased, while same-day trips and trips with overnight stay in the destination country decreased. Good one-fifth of same-day trips to Sweden were same-day cruises. Among other Nordic countries, Denmark and particularly Norway also increased their popularity among Finnish residents.

Trips to Russia with overnight stay in the destination country remained on level with the year before, but the number of same-day trips went down considerably from one year back.

Trips to Spain and especially to the Canary Islands diminished. In contrast, Finns travelled more and more to Greece and Portugal. Germany also increased its popularity for Finns. In addition to Germany, interesting destinations in Western and Eastern Europe were the Czech Republic, Poland, Switzerland and France.

The number of trips heading outside Europe increased in Asia. Fewer trips than in the year before were made to the favourite destination in Asia, Thailand, but the United Arab Emirates became more popular.

Finnish residents’ most popular destinations for leisure trips with overnight stay in the destination country in 2015 and 2014

Eight per cent more domestic trips with paid accommodation were made than one year earlier. One-fifth of these trips were made to the region of Uusimaa.

Lapland lost popularity, but trips to North Ostrobothnia increased by 12 per cent. Compared with the previous year, nights spent at hotels increased by ten per cent and nights spent at rented cottages by three 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.

The number of business trips in Finland decreased slightly but business travel abroad was roughly on level with the previous year.

Leisure trips of an average Finn in 2015:
     1.4 domestic leisure trips with paid accommodation,
     1.4 trips abroad that included overnight stay in the country of destination,
     0.4 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, 15,353 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 2015 are based on 1,235 interviews.

Additional tables are found in the StatFin database.

Source: Finnish Travel, Statistics Finland

Inquiries: Taru Tamminen 029 551 2243, Teemu Okkonen 029 551 2634, liikenne.matkailu@stat.fi

Director in charge: Mari Ylä-Jarkko

Publication in pdf-format (372.7 kB)

Reviews

• 1. Trips abroad (30.3.2016)
• 2. Domestic trips (30.3.2016)
• 3. Travel reservations (30.3.2016)
• 4. Numbers of trips have changed much in ten years (30.3.2016)
• 5. Ninety-one per cent of Finns made at least one trip in 2015 (30.3.2016)

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 2015 (30.3.2016)
• Appendix table 2. Leisure trips abroad (overnight in destination country) by most popular destinations in 2015 (30.3.2016)
• Appendix table 3. Business trips abroad by destination country in 2015 (30.3.2016)
• Appendix table 4. Trips abroad by cause and destination in 2015 and its change (30.3.2016)
• Appendix table 5. Bookings of transportation via internet in 2015 (30.3.2016)
• Appendix table 6. Bookings of accommodation via internet in 2015 (30.3.2016)

Quality descriptions

• Quality description: Finnish Travel 2015 (30.3.2016)

---

Updated 30.3.2016