Leisure trips abroad decreased in September to December 2018

According to Statistics Finland’s preliminary data, fewer leisure trips abroad were made in September to December 2018 than in the previous year's September to December. In the autumn period 2018, clearly fewer trips were made to Estonia than in the corresponding period of the year before. Instead, more trips to other countries were made in the autumn period than in the year before. The number of domestic leisure trips remained on level with the previous year in September to December 2018.

Leisure trips by type of trip in September to December 2012 to 2018* (excl. domestic trips with free accommodation)

In the last four months of 2018, Finnish residents aged 15 to 84 made 17.9 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 7.8 million domestic leisure trips with overnight stay were made in the September to December period. Of these, 5.9 million were trips with free accommodation. Leisure trips with overnight stay at paid accommodation numbered 1.8 million and their most popular destinations were Uusimaa, Lapland and Pirkanmaa. Uusimaa kept its top position as the region of travel in the last four months of the year.

The number of same-day leisure trips in Finland was 5.5 million and Uusimaa, Pirkanmaa and Southwest Finland were the most popular destination regions for same-day trips.

Inclusive of trips with overnight stay in the destination country, cruises and same-day trips, leisure trips abroad numbered 2.5 million in the September to December period. The number of leisure trips abroad decreased compared to the previous year's autumn. October was the most popular month for travelling, when leisure trips were made abroad.

Leisure trips to Estonia decreased clearly from the previous year’s autumn. November was the most popular month of the period to visit Estonia. Leisure trips to Sweden also decreased from the previous year’s autumn. The most favoured month for travelling to Sweden in late 2018 was October.

Leisure trips to Spain and the Canary Islands increased in late 2018 and a total of 0.3 million trips were made.

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 the same as 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.

Of the trips with overnight stay in the destination country, only every fifth trip was headed to Estonia towards the end of the year. In the previous year, every fourth leisure trip with overnight stay in the destination country was still headed to Estonia. In turn, at the end of the year as many as every third leisure trip with overnight stay in the destination country was headed to Southern Europe and the Eastern Mediterranean, while in the previous year’s September to October it was only every fourth trip.

In addition to leisure trips, 1.3 million business and professional trips with overnight stay were made in Finland during the latter part of the year. Business or professional trips abroad (inclusive of trips with overnight stay in the destination country, cruises and same-day trips) numbered 0.8 million. Domestic business trips increased clearly from the previous year, whereas business trips abroad remained unchanged.

These data derive from Statistics Finland's Finnish Travel survey, for which altogether 4,618 Finnish residents aged 15 to 84 were interviewed in October, November and December 2018 and in January 2019.

Preliminary data for the whole of 2018

According to Statistics Finland's preliminary data, Finnish residents made 8.2 million different leisure trips abroad in 2018. Of the trips, 6.4 million were leisure trips with overnight stay in the destination country, 1.0 million cruises with overnight stay on board to neighbouring areas, and 0.8 million same-day trips or same-day cruises to neighbouring areas.

Estonia, Sweden and Spain were the most popular leisure trip destinations in 2018. Leisure trips to Estonia decreased clearly from the previous year while trips elsewhere increased.

Finnish residents made 25.7 million various leisure trips with overnight stay in Finland. In total, 6.8 million of the trips were trips with paid accommodation and 18.9 million with free accommodation.

The most popular regions were Uusimaa, Pirkanmaa, North Ostrobothnia and Southwest Finland.

Leisure trips in both Finland and abroad decreased slightly from 2017.

Preliminary data concerning travel derive from Statistics Finland's monthly Finnish Travel sample survey. In all, 13,537 persons aged 15 to 84 permanently resident in Finland were interviewed for the numbers of trips. Final annual data will be published on 28 March 2019.

Source: Finnish Travel, Statistics Finland

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

Director in charge: Mari Yl�-Jarkko

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Quality descriptions

Quality description: Finnish Travel (7.2.2019)

Updated 7.2.2019

Referencing instructions:

Official Statistics of Finland (OSF): Finnish Travel [e-publication].
ISSN=1798-9027. Autumn (1.9.-31.12) 2018. Helsinki: Statistics Finland [referred: 5.11.2024].
Access method: http://www.stat.fi/til/smat/2018/15/smat_2018_15_2019-02-07_tie_001_en.html