Leisure trips abroad increased in September to December 2017

According to Statistics Finland’s preliminary data, more leisure trips abroad were made in September to December 2017 than in the previous year's autumn. Finns travelled to their favourite destination, Estonia, more often in the autumn period than in the corresponding period of the previous year. The number of domestic leisure trips was equal to one year earlier. Domestic trips with paid accommodation increased, while the number of trips with free accommodation went down from the previous year.

Finns' leisure trips by type of trip in September to December 2012 to 2017* (excl. domestic trips with free accommodation)

In the last four months of 2017, Finnish residents aged 15 to 84 made 12.7 million trips when all domestic and foreign leisure trips, as well as business and professional trips are included. In addition to trips with overnight stay, the number also includes same-day trips abroad.

Altogether, 7.8 million domestic leisure trips with overnight stay were made in the September to December period. Of these, 5.8 million were trips with free accommodation. Leisure trips with overnight stay at paid accommodation numbered 2.0 million and their most population destinations were Uusimaa, Pirkanmaa and Lapland. Uusimaa kept its top position as the region of travel in the last four months of the year.

Inclusive of trips with overnight stay in the destination country, cruises and same-day trips, leisure trips abroad numbered 2.7 million in the September to December period. The number of leisure trips abroad increased compared to the previous year's autumn. October was the most popular month for travelling, when the leisure trip was made abroad.

Leisure trips to Estonia increased from autumn 2016. November was the most popular month of the period to visit Estonia. In turn, leisure trips to Sweden went down from the previous year’s autumn. The most favoured month for travelling to Sweden in late 2017 was December.

Spain is also a long-standing favourite for Finns. Continental Spain has particularly established its place as a destination for Finnish travel in the last four months of the year, and 150,000 trips were made to Continental Spain and the Balearic Islands in September to December, which is 20 per cent more than in the previous year.

The number of trips to Eastern and Western Europe increased slightly compared with the previous year's autumn. Germany was the most popular travel destination in Western Europe.

When examining only leisure trips with overnight stay in the destination country, their number was higher than in the previous year's September to December, 2.0 million. October was the most popular month for these trips, as then the number of trips abroad with overnight stay in the destination country was 0.6 million.

One-quarter of the trips with overnight stay in the destination country were headed to Estonia and one-fifth to a northern Mediterranean country.

In addition to leisure trips, 1.5 million domestic business or professional trips were made. Business or professional trips abroad (inclusive of trips with overnight stay in the destination country, cruises and same-day trips) numbered 0.7 million. The number of business trips both in Finland and abroad decreased from the year before.

These data derive from Statistics Finland's Finnish Travel survey, for which altogether 4,737 Finnish residents aged 15 to 84 were interviewed in October, November and December 2017 and in January 2018.

Preliminary data for the whole of 2017

According to Statistics Finland's preliminary data, Finnish residents made 8.5 million different leisure trips abroad in 2017. Of the trips, 6.5 million were leisure trips with overnight stay in the destination country, 1.1 million cruises with overnight stays on board to neighbouring areas, and 1.0 million same-day trips or same-day cruises to neighbouring areas.

Estonia, Sweden and Spain were the most popular destinations. Trips to Continental Spain increased from the previous year.

Finnish residents made 26.4 million various leisure trips in Finland. In total, 6.8 million of the trips were trips with paid accommodation and 19.6 million with free accommodation.

The most popular regions were Uusimaa. Pirkanmaa, North Ostrobothnia and Varsinais-Suomi.

Leisure trips in both Finland and abroad went up slightly from 2016.

Preliminary data concerning travel derive from Statistics Finland's monthly Finnish Travel sample survey. In all, 14,282 persons aged 15 to 84 permanently resident in Finland were interviewed for the numbers of trips. Final annual data will be published on 29 March 2018.

Source: Finnish Travel, Statistics Finland

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

Director in charge: Sami Saarikivi

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Quality descriptions

Quality description: Finnish Travel (8.2.2018)

Updated 8.2.2018

Referencing instructions:

Official Statistics of Finland (OSF): Finnish Travel [e-publication].
ISSN=1798-9027. Autumn (1.9.-31.12) 2017. Helsinki: Statistics Finland [referred: 4.11.2024].
Access method: http://www.stat.fi/til/smat/2017/15/smat_2017_15_2018-02-08_tie_001_en.html