Home > Statistics > Finnish Travel > 2017 > 2. Domestic trips

2. Domestic trips

2.1. Number of domestic leisure trips with paid accommodation increased slightly

In 2017, some 6.8 million leisure trips were made in Finland during which paid accommodation services, such as hotels, camping sites or rented cottages, were used at least once. The number grew a little from the year before.

Examined by age group, Finns of all ages increased their travel in hotels and rented cottages in Finland. Among persons aged under 35, the popularity of trips in Finland increased most.

Finns' favourite holiday destinations in Finland were Uusimaa, Pirkanmaa and Lapland. Trips to Uusimaa numbered nearly 1.4 million, or 20 per cent of all trips with paid accommodation. Thirteen per cent of trips were headed to Pirkanmaa and 11 per cent to Lapland.

In 2017, more leisure trips were made to Lapland than one year earlier. Lapland attracted tourists around the year, but the most popular time to travel there was in March to April to enjoy spring skiing and in September during the autumn colours. When travelling in the rest of Finland, the most popular times were summer months. Seventeen per cent of trips with paid accommodation in Finland were made in July.

Domestic tourists were interested in big towns, as almost three out of four trips to Uusimaa were made to Helsinki. Of trips to Pirkanmaa, four out of five were headed to Tampere and of trips to Varsinais-Suomi, nearly two out of three to Turku.

In Finland, passenger cars were the most usual means of travel as nearly 80 per cent of trips were made with passenger cars. Travelling with public transport, like bus, train and plane, increased from the previous year.

The number of nights spent during domestic leisure trips involving paid accommodation totalled 16.4 million, which was slightly more than in 2016. Of overnight stays, 63 per cent took place in hotels, holiday villages and camping sites, and 35 per cent in rented cottages.

2.2. Free accommodation in big towns

Almost 20 million overnight leisure trips with free accommodation were made in Finland, i.e. to own free-time residences or to relatives or friends. The number of these trips with free accommodation remained almost at the same level as in the previous year.

Of the trips with free accommodation, good three million were made to Uusimaa, and one-half of them to Helsinki. Two million trips with free accommodation were made to Pirkanmaa and nearly one-half of them to Tampere. A total of 1.6 million trips were made to Varsinais-Suomi and good one-third of them to Turku. Trips with free accommodation to North Ostrobothnia numbered 1.6 million.

The high season for trips with free accommodation was the summer months, as good one-third of trips with free accommodation in 2017 were made in June to August.

2.3. Domestic business trips

A total of 3.8 million business trips with overnight stays were made in Finland in 2017. Roughly the same number of domestic business trips was made as in 2016.

Domestic business trips were typically very short. Fifty-nine per cent of the trips only lasted for one night and 29 per cent for two to three nights.

Domestic business trips were usually made by passenger car, as 62 per cent of the trips were made driving one's car. Eighteen per cent of business trips were made by train and 10 per cent by plane.

Source: Finnish Travel, Statistics Finland

Inquiries: Taru Tamminen 029 551 2243, Ossi Nurmi 029 551 2984, liikenne.matkailu@stat.fi

Director in charge: Sami Saarikivi

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Updated 29.3.2018