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Published: 29 March 2018

Finns' travel to Central and Southern Europe increased in 2017

According to Statistics Finland's survey, Finns made 8.5 million different kinds of leisure trips abroad in 2017. Western and Eastern Europe, as well as Southern Europe increased their popularity as travel destinations among Finns but trips to the American continent fell in popularity. The number of domestic leisure trips was 26 million. Business trips in Finland remained on level with the previous year but business trips abroad decreased from the previous year.

Finnish residents’ travel in 2012 to 2017 (excl. domestic leisure trips with free accommodation)

Finnish residents’ leisure trips abroad increased in 2017 from the year before. Slightly more trips than in 2016 were made to Estonia in 2017, and it maintained its unwavering top position as a leisure trip destination for Finns. Leisure trips to our western neighbour Sweden decreased slightly from 2016. Trips to our eastern neighbour Russia also diminished from the year before.

Among customary favourites in Central Europe, the United Kingdom and France, as well as Continental Spain and Greece in Southern Europe gained popularity.

The number of trips heading outside Europe decreased.

Finnish residents’ most popular destinations for leisure trips with overnight stay in the destination country in 2017, 2016 and 2015

The number of domestic trips with paid accommodation increased from the previous year. In 2017, a total of nearly seven million such trips were made. Short trips lasting under four nights increased, but trips lasting for at least four nights decreased from the year before. As expected, summer months were the most popular time to travel in Finland.

One-fifth of trips with paid accommodation were made to the region of Uusimaa. The next most popular regions were Pirkanmaa and Lapland. The most popular towns were Helsinki, Tampere and Turku.

Compared with the previous year, nights spent at hotels and rented cottages increased slightly.

The most popular destination for trips with free accommodation was also Uusimaa. The next most popular destinations for trips with free accommodation were Pirkanmaa, North Ostrobothnia, Lapland and Varsinais-Suomi.

The number of business trips abroad decreased a bit from the previous year and remained roughly at the same level in Finland as in the year before.

Leisure trips of an average Finn in 2017:
     1.5 domestic leisure trips with paid accommodation,
     1.5 trips abroad that included overnight stay in the country of destination,
     0.4 same-day trips abroad or cruises to neighbouring areas.

Data collection

The 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.

The numbers of persons who had travelled during the year were collected with an additional survey carried out in connection with the December interview concerning travelling. The data for the annual survey of 2017 are based on 1,191 interviews.

Additional tables are found in the PX Web database at:
http://pxnet2.stat.fi/PXWeb/pxweb/en/StatFin/StatFin__lii__smat

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

Publication in pdf-format (361.6 kB)

Reviews

• 1. Trips abroad (29.3.2018)
• 2. Domestic trips (29.3.2018)
• 3. Travel reservations (29.3.2018)
• 4. Numbers of trips have changed much in ten years (29.3.2018)
• 5. Ninety-one per cent of Finns made at least one trip in 2017 (29.3.2018)

Tables

Tables in databases

Pick the data you need into tables, view the data as graphs, or download the data for your use.

• Database tables and their variables
• Archived tables

Appendix tables

• Appendix table 1. Overnight stay trips by Finnish residents in 2012 to 2017 (29.3.2018)
• Appendix table 2. Leisure trips abroad (overnight in destination country) by most popular destinations in 2012 to 2017 (29.3.2018)
• Appendix table 3. Business trips abroad by destination country in 2015 to 2017 (29.3.2018)
• Appendix table 4. Trips abroad by cause and destination in 2017 and its change (29.3.2018)
• Appendix table 5. Bookings of transportation via internet in 2017 (29.3.2018)
• Appendix table 6. Bookings of accommodation via internet in 2017 (29.3.2018)

Quality descriptions

• Quality description: Finnish Travel 2017 (29.3.2018)

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Updated 29.3.2018