Home > Statistics > Accommodation statistics > 2013 > Foreign demand for accommodation services grew by one per cent in 2013

Published: 30 May 2014

Foreign demand for accommodation services grew by one per cent in 2013

In 2012, a record limit of 20 million overnight stays was reached, and the demand for accommodation services still remained at the 2012 level in 2013. The first four months of the year indicated a petering out in the demand of accommodation services but the summer season turned the demand back to positive. In the last four months of the year, the demand declined slightly again. In the whole year 2013, foreign demand for accommodation services grew by one per cent while domestic demand decreased by one per cent. In 2013, accommodation establishments in Finland recorded a total of 20.2 million overnight stays, of which domestic tourists accounted for 14.4 million and foreign tourists for nearly 5.9 million. These figures are data from Statistics Finland’s statistics on accommodation establishments and they have been collected from accommodation establishments with at least 20 beds or caravan pitches with electricity connection, and youth hostels.

Year-on-year changes in nights spent (%) by month 2013–2012

Russians formed the largest group of foreign visitors in 2013

As usual, Russians were the largest group of foreign tourists in Finnish accommodation establishments in 2013. Altogether, 1.6 million overnight stays were recorded for Russians, which was 7.5 per cent more than in the year before. Russian visitors accounted for nearly 28 per cent of all overnight stays by foreign visitors. Swedish, German and British visitors came next. For all three groups the number of overnight stays was around one-third of the overnight stays by Russians, or 0.5 million overnight stays for each group. Overnight stays by Swedish visitors decreased by one per cent, and those by visitors from Germany by 6.1 per cent from 2012. By contrast, overnight stays by British tourists continued to grow as in 2012, and 12.1 per cent more overnight stays were recorded for them than in 2012. Overnight stays by French and Japanese tourists amounted to good 200,000 each. Nights spent by French tourists went down by 1.7 per cent, whereas those spent by Japanese tourists went up by 16.4 per cent. Among the most important countries of inbound tourism to Finland, China stood for the most growth, however. Their overnight stays at Finnish accommodation establishments increased by good one-quarter or 26.4 per cent. By contrast, overnight stays by Estonian visitors decreased heavily throughout 2013 and they spent 20.5 per cent fewer nights in Finland than in 2012.

Viewed by continent, the biggest growth came from Asian countries, 17.3 per cent with China and Japan acting as the growth engines. Overnight stays by visitors from EU countries and Nordic countries declined slightly in 2013. Overall, 2.7 million overnight stays were recorded for visitors from EU countries, which was 3.5 per cent fewer than in 2012. Among the largest EU countries, inbound tourism decreased from Italy and Germany in 2013. Overnight stays by Italian tourists decreased by 11.6 per cent and those by Germans by 6.1 per cent. Nearly 800,000 overnight stays were recorded for visitors from Nordic countries, which was 2.4 per cent fewer than in 2012. Overnight stays by visitors from America, Oceania and Africa also decreased by around six to seven per cent.

Change in overnight stays 2013 / 2012, %

Overnight stays at hotels numbered 16 million

In 2013, the total number of nights spent in hotels totalled 16 million, which was 1.7 per cent lower than in 2012. Recorded nights spent by resident tourists in hotels numbered 11.2 million. The number was 2.1 per cent lower than in the year before. Overnight stays by foreign tourists decreased by 0.8 per cent and hotels recorded a total of 4.8 million of them. Overnight stays at hotels covered 79 per cent of all overnight stays at accommodation establishments. The share of foreign tourists of overnight stays in hotels was 30 per cent and 29 per cent of all overnight stays at accommodation establishments.

The occupancy rate of hotel rooms for the whole country was 51.3 per cent in 2013. One year earlier, it was 52.6 per cent. The average price of a hotel room has grown from 2011 when the average price was EUR 88 to EUR 91 in 2013.

Hotel room occupancy rate and the monthly average price

Regional development of overnight stays in 2013

In 2013, the largest growth percentage for overnight stays was recorded in the region of Etelä-Savo, where the capacity of accommodation establishments also increased somewhat. Overnight stays in Etelä-Savo grew by 14.9 per cent, while the second highest growth was seen in Kymenlaakso, 9.9 per cent. Six per cent growth was achieved in South Karelia and good four per cent growth in Central Ostrobothnia. By contrast, overnight stays in Kanta-Häme decreased by 8.3 percent, in Central Finland by 4.8 per cent and in Varsinais-Suomi by 3.9 per cent. In absolute numbers, overnight stays in accommodation establishments increased most in Etelä-Savo, where good 100,000 more stays than in 2012 were recorded.

The share of overnight stays by foreign tourists of all overnight stays was 52 per cent in South Karelia, 46 per cent in Uusimaa and 43 per cent in Lapland. These regions also recorded most overnight stays by Russians. In Uusimaa, nearly 440,000 overnight stays were recorded for Russians, in South Karelia good 350,000 and in Lapland 150,000.

In Kymenlaakso, the share of overnight stays by foreign tourists of all overnight stays was 36 per cent and in Etelä-Savo 26 per cent. In other regions of Finnish mainland, at most one night in five was spent by a foreign visitor.

Change in overnight stays by region 2013/2012,%

Development of overnight stays by foreigners in Europe

During 2003 to 2012, the growth of overnight stays by foreigners was faster in Finland than the European average. In 2003 to 2012, overnight stays by foreigners increased on average by 3.3 per cent per year in Finland and on average by 2.6 per cent in Europe. In terms of overnight stays by foreigners, the growth has continued also in 2013 in Europe. However, last year, the growth in overnight stays by foreigners was slower in Finland than in other European countries. Overnight stays by foreigners in Finland only grew by one per cent in 2013 while in other Nordic countries and in the Baltic countries the average growth amounted to 1.7 per cent, 2.6 per cent in Southern Europe, and as much as 7.7 in Central Europe.

Nights spent by non-residents in Europe (2003 = 100)

Development of overnight stays by resident tourists in Europe

In 2013, the overnight stays by resident tourists made a downturn in Finland and declined by 0.9 per cent. Central Europe, the Nordic countries and Baltic countries still managed to reach an average growth of 0.9 per cent, even though this was clearly slower than in previous years. In Southern Europe, overnight stays by resident tourists have declined by as much as 12.2 per cent from 2010 and are now at the level preceding 2003.

The information on overnight stays in other European countries is based on monthly data on the use of capacity at European accommodation establishments collected by Eurostat.

Nights spent by residents in Europe (2003 = 100)

The capacity of accommodation establishments increased in 2013

In 2013, the register of accommodation establishments has been further updated based on regulation no 692/2011 of the European Parliament and the Council concerning European statistics on tourism with new establishments, and the industry data of accommodation establishments have been revised. The number of accommodation establishments contained in the statistics grew by 17 in 2013. The room capacity decreased by 139 rooms while the number of beds grew by 1,200 beds. In absolute numbers, the biggest changes were directed at holiday villages and hotels.

In 2013, the statistics covered a total of 1,443 accommodation establishments; 674 hotels, 154 guest houses, 316 holiday villages, 243 camping sites and 56 youth hostels. Holiday villages of hotel calibre are included in hotels. The accommodation establishments had 66,249 rooms (or cottages) with a total of 162,740 beds. In addition to room and bed capacity, the accommodation establishments had 21,112 caravan pitches with electricity connection of which 16,481 were located at camp sites. 

When the capacity of accommodation establishments is viewed according to the number of rooms, the statistics contained 1,077 establishments with less than 50 rooms and 366 establishments with at least 50 rooms in 2013. Measured by bed capacity, there were 997 establishments with less than one hundred beds and 446 establishments with at least one hundred beds.

In 2013, there were 1,093 accommodation establishments that were open year round and 350 establishments that were open part of the year; these were mostly camp sites and holiday villages.

Source: Accommodation Statistics. Statistics Finland

Inquiries: Marjut Tuominen 09 1734 3556 (9.6.2014=> 029 551 3556), Ossi Nurmi 09 1734 2984 (9.6.2014 => 029 551 2984), liikenne.matkailu@stat.fi

Director in charge: Hannele Orjala

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Appendix tables

• Appendix table 1. Capacity and its utilization in 2013 (30.5.2014)
• Appendix table 2. Nights spend in all establishments in 2013 (30.5.2014)
• Appendix table 3. Hotel capacity and capacity utilization in 2013 (30.5.2014)
• Appendix table 4. Nights spend in hotels in 2013 (30.5.2014)
• Appendix table 5. Visitor arrivals and nights spend by country of residence in 2013 (30.5.2014)
• Appendix table 6. Nights spend in all establishments by month in 2013 (30.5.2014)
• Appendix table 7.1. Nights spent by non-residents and annual change (%) in all establishments in 2013 (30.5.2014)
• Appendix table 7.2. Nights spent by non-residents and annual change (%) in all establishments in 2013 (30.5.2014)
• Appendix table 8.1. Nights spent by non-residents and annual change (%) in hotels in 2013 (30.5.2014)
• Appendix table 8.2. Nights spent by non-residents and annual change (%) in hotels in 2013 (30.5.2014)
• Appendix table 9.1. Capacity of accommodation establishments and capacity utilization by type of establishment in 2013 (30.5.2014)
• Appendix table 9.2. Capacity of accommodation establishments and capacity utilization by type of establishment, May-August 2013 (30.5.2014)
• Appendix table 10.1. Capacity of accommodation establishments by type of establishment in 2013 (30.5.2014)
• Appendix table 10.2. Capacity of accommodation establishments by opening season in 2013 (30.5.2014)
• Appendix table 10.3. Capacity of accommodation establishments by number of bed-places in 2013 (30.5.2014)
• Appendix table 10.4. Capacity of accommodation establishments by number of rooms in 2013 (30.5.2014)

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Updated 30.5.2014