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Published: 12 October 2018

Finns travelled in Finland and to the Mediterranean in the summer of 2018

According to Statistics Finland’s preliminary data, the number of leisure trips made by Finnish residents remained unchanged in May to August 2018 compared with the previous year. However, the beautiful summer made Finns travel again in Finland and domestic travel increased from the previous year. Finnish residents also travelled more than in the year before to Southern Europe. On the other hand, fewer trips with overnight stay were made to Estonia than in the previous summer.

Leisure trips in May to August 2012 to 2018* (excl. domestic same-day trips and trips with free accommodation)

Leisure trips in May to August 2012 to 2018* (excl. domestic same-day trips and trips with free accommodation)

In the second four months of 2018, Finnish residents aged 15 to 84 made 22.1 million trips, when 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 and in Finland.

Altogether 11.3 million domestic leisure trips with overnight stay were made in the May to August period. In all, 8.2 million of them were trips with free accommodation, which was approximately the same as in May to August 2017. Leisure trips with overnight stay at paid accommodation numbered 3.1 million and their most popular destinations were Pirkanmaa, Uusimaa, Varsinais-Suomi and Pohjois-Pohjanmaa. For the first time, Uusimaa had to share its top position as the region of travel in summer with Pirkanmaa. The number of domestic trips with paid accommodation was higher than in May to August of the previous year.

The number of same-day leisure trips in Finland was 4.6 million and Uusimaa, Pirkanmaa and Varsinais-Suomi were the most popular destination regions for same-day trips.

As expected, July was the most popular month for travelling in Finland in the summer season, because at that time 1.1 million domestic trips with paid accommodation and 2.7 million trips with free accommodation were made. Of these trips made in July, 10 per cent were made to Uusimaa.

A total of 3.2 million leisure trips were made abroad in May to August. The figure includes trips with overnight stay in the destination country, cruises and same-day trips. A total of 2.6 million leisure trips abroad included overnight stay in the destination country. The number of cruises with overnight stay on board only was 0.3 million. Nearly all cruises were made to Sweden or Estonia. In May to August, 0.3 million same-day trips abroad were also made. Of these, nearly one-half were day cruises to Estonia.

In summer, leisure trips were made mostly by air or by boat. The number of trips by sea was 1.2 million and that of trips by air was 1.5 million. A total of 0.4 million trips were made by car outside the borders of Finland.

July was also the most popular month for travelling abroad during summer. However, trips with overnight stay in the destination country decreased compared to July 2017.

The number of leisure trips to Estonia decreased from the previous summer. Trips with overnight stay in the destination country to our southern neighbour numbered 550,000, overnight cruises and same-day cruises numbered 220,000 in total.

Leisure trips to Sweden also decreased slightly from the previous summer. The number of trips with overnight stay in the destination country made to our western neighbour in the summer season was 310,000 and overnight cruises 200,000.

The number of leisure trips to Russia remained on level with the previous year, despite the FIFA World Cup.

Leisure trips made to Central Europe decreased from the previous summer. The number of trips to western Central Europe amounted to 340,000, of which 110,000 were trips to Germany. The number of trips to eastern Central Europe amounted to 160,000.

Trips to the heat in Southern Europe were also made even though the weather was hot in the whole country during the summer. A total of 660,000 summer trips were made to northern Mediterranean countries, which was even higher than the record number of 610,000 trips made the year before. Of the favourite Mediterranean countries, Spain and Greece lost some of their popularity, whereas the number of trips to Italy increased when compared to the corresponding period the year before.

Trips with overnight stay in the destination country fell in total slightly from last year's May to August period. Of these trips with overnight stay in the destination country almost one quarter were package tours.

However, package tours are not more popular in summer than in any other time of the year. Twenty-six per cent of trips to Estonia with overnight stay in the destination country were package tours. Seventy-three per cent of trips made to Greece were package tours. On the other hand, only a small part of the trips to Spain and Italy were package tours. Around 21 per cent of trips to Spain and 17 per cent of those to Italy were package tours.

Although more than one-half of overnight stays abroad in May to August were spent in hotels, people also stay with friends and relatives particularly in summer, because one in seven of leisure trip nights spent abroad were with friends and relatives. Also, renting an apartment from abroad for the duration of the trip has slowly increased in popularity, as every tenth night during a leisure trip was spent in a rental dwelling.

Leisure travel is clearly livelier in the summer season than in other times of the year. Clearly more domestic trips with paid accommodation are made during summer, as well as domestic overnight trips with free accommodation. Trips abroad with overnight stay in the destination country also increased, but when it comes to the number of cruises and same-day trips there is no noticeable peak during the summer, but they are popular all year round.

In addition to leisure trips, one 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 0.9 million. Business trips both in Finland and abroad increased from the corresponding period last year.

These data derive from Statistics Finland's Finnish Travel survey for which altogether 4,401 Finnish residents aged 15 to 84 were interviewed in June, July, August and September.


Source: Finnish Travel, Statistics Finland

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

Director in charge: Mari Ylä-Jarkko

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Updated 12.10.2018

Referencing instructions:

Official Statistics of Finland (OSF): Finnish Travel [e-publication].
ISSN=1798-9027. Summer (1.5.-31.8) 2018. Helsinki: Statistics Finland [referred: 21.11.2024].
Access method: http://www.stat.fi/til/smat/2018/14/smat_2018_14_2018-10-12_tie_001_en.html