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Published: 29 March 2017

Finns' travel to Sweden and Spain increased in 2016

According to Statistics Finland's survey, Finnish residents made good eight million different leisure trips abroad in 2016. Trips to the Nordic countries, Eastern Europe and the American continent increased their popularity. Western Europe and Asia lost some of their appeal among Finnish tourists. Among Southern European countries, western Mediterranean countries gained and eastern Mediterranean countries lost in popularity. The number of domestic leisure trips was 26 million. Business trips both in Finland and abroad increased from the previous year.

Finnish residents’ travel in 2012 to 2016 (excl. domestic leisure trips with free accommodation)

Finnish residents’ leisure trips abroad remained on level with 2015 in 2016. Slightly fewer trips than in 2015 were made to Estonia in 2016, but it maintained its unswerving top position as a travel destination for Finns. Overnight cruises to Estonia increased but day cruises diminished.

Leisure trips to Sweden increased from the year before. Trips to Russia also grew after a couple of years’ decline.

Of conventional favourites, Germany and France lost in popularity while trips to Italy, Continental Spain and the Canary Islands increased.

The number of trips heading outside Europe increased to the American continent. Seventy per cent of these trips were headed to the United States. In contrast, Asia lost some of its popularity as a leisure destination for Finns.

Finnish residents’ most popular destinations for leisure trips with overnight stay in the destination country in 2016, 2015 and 2014

The number of domestic trips with paid accommodation remained at the same level as in the previous year. In turn, trips lasting at least four nights increased from the previous year. As expected, summer months were the most popular time to travel in Finland.

One-fifth of trips with paid accommodation were made to the region of Uusimaa. The next most popular regions were Pirkanmaa, North Ostrobothnia and Lapland. The most popular towns were Helsinki, Tampere and Turku.

Compared with the previous year, nights spent at hotels and rented cottages remained roughly at the same level.

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

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

Leisure trips of an average Finn in 2016:
     1.4 domestic leisure trips with paid accommodation,
     1.4 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, 14,620 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 for the annual survey of 2016 are based on 1,212 interviews.

Additional tables are found in the PX Web database at:
http://pxnet2.stat.fi/PXWeb/pxweb/en/StatFin/StatFin__lii__smat/?tablelist=true

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 (348.4 kB)

Reviews

• 1. Trips abroad (29.3.2017)
• 2. Domestic trips (29.3.2017)
• 3. Travel reservations (29.3.2017)
• 4. Numbers of trips have changed much in ten years (29.3.2017)
• 5. Ninety-one per cent of Finns made at least one trip in 2016 (29.3.2017)

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 2012 to 2016 (29.3.2017)
• Appendix table 2. Leisure trips abroad (overnight in destination country) by most popular destinations in 2016 (29.3.2017)
• Appendix table 3. Business trips abroad by destination country in 2016 (29.3.2017)
• Appendix table 4. Trips abroad by cause and destination in 2016 and its change (29.3.2017)
• Appendix table 5. Bookings of transportation via internet in 2016 (29.3.2017)
• Appendix table 6. Bookings of accommodation via internet in 2016 (29.3.2017)

Quality descriptions

• Quality description: Finnish Travel 2016 (29.3.2017)

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Updated 29.3.2017