A more recent publication of this set of statistics is available. Latest publication: Accommodation statistics 2020, July

Published: 14 September 2017

Nights spent by foreign tourists in Finland up by 11.6 per cent in July 2017

Nights spent by foreign tourists at Finnish accommodation establishments continued growing, by 11.6 per cent from last year and nearly 802,000 nights were recorded for them in July 2017. By contrast, the number of nights spent by resident tourists went down by 0.6 per cent and totalled slightly under 2.3 million at accommodation establishments. A total of nearly 3.1 million overnight stays were recorded at Finnish accommodation establishments in July 2017, which was 2.3 per cent more than in July 2016. These figures are preliminary 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.

Change in overnight stays in July 2017/2016, %

Overnight stays by visitors from the USA and Great Britain increased heavily in July

Nearly 36,000 overnight stays were recorded for visitors from the USA at Finnish accommodation establishments, which was 34.4 per cent more than in July 2016. The number of recorded nights spent by them was highest in Uusimaa, nearly 27,000. Overnight stays recorded for British visitors increased by 27.2 per cent, and close on 34,000 nights were recorded for them at accommodation establishments in July 2017. Overnight stays by British tourists also took place mainly in Uusimaa, where 21,000 overnight stays were recorded for them. In all, the share of Uusimaa in all overnight stays by foreign tourists was good 42 per cent.

Sweden, Germany and Russia biggest countries of tourism in July

The top three remained unchanged from June; but the order changed. Swedish tourists were the largest group of foreign visitors with good 127,000 nights spent. Their overnight stays increased by 10.3 per cent from the year before. Germans were the second biggest group and nearly 97,000 overnight stays were recorded for them at Finnish accommodation establishments, which was 17.4 per cent more than one year before. Russians came third with good 88,000 nights spent, which was 15.3 per cent up on July 2016. Chinese and Norwegian visitors came next. 39,000 overnight stays were recorded for Chinese visitors, which was 24.2 per cent more than one year before. Nearly 36,000 overnight stays were recorded for Norwegian tourists. The number was 3.1 per cent higher than in July 2016.

Apart for a one per cent drop in overnight stays by Italian visitors, nights spent by visitors from all the most important countries of inbound tourism to Finland increased in July. In addition to those mentioned above, overnight stays by Dutch visitors increased by one-fifth and those by Swiss, Estonian and Japanese tourists grew by 11 to 13 per cent from July 2016.

Examined by region, overnight stays increased in July most in Päijät-Häme, up by 7.3 per cent. In Uusimaa, Varsinais-Suomi and Pirkanmaa, as well as in Pohjois-Savo and North Ostrobothnia the growth in overnight stays was around five per cent in each. In contrast, the total number of overnight stays decreased most in Kanta-Häme, by 20.1 per cent, and in Central Ostrobothnia, by 8.9 per cent. In the whole country, overnight stays increased by 2.3 per cent from July 2016.

Change in overnight stays in July by region 2017/2016, %

Overnight stays at hotels increased by 3.0 per cent

In July 2017, the total number of nights spent in hotels was close on 2.1 million, which was 3.0 per cent higher than twelve months earlier. Overnight stays by foreign tourists increased by 11.7 per cent and hotels recorded a total of nearly 597,000 of them. Recorded nights spent by resident tourists in hotels numbered close on 1.5 million. The number was almost the same as one year before; declining by just 0.1 per cent.

The occupancy rate of hotel rooms was 63.9 per cent in July. One year earlier, it was 62.9 per cent. Among the regions, the highest occupancy rates of hotel rooms were measured in Åland, 84.8 per cent, and Varsinais-Suomi, 80.2 per cent. In Mariehamn, the hotel room occupancy rate was 88.5 per cent and in Turku 85.1 per cent. The hotel room occupancy rate in Helsinki was 75.2 per cent.

In July 2017, the realised average price of a hotel room was EUR 95.34 per day for the whole country. Twelve months previously, it was EUR 97.90.

Hotel room occupancy rate and the monthly average price

Total number of nights spent at all accommodation establishments grew by 5.6 per cent in January to July 2017

Between January and July 2017, the number of nights spent at accommodation establishments in Finland totalled nearly 13 million. This was 5.6 per cent higher than in the corresponding period one year earlier. Good 9 million overnight stays were recorded for resident tourists and nearly 4 million overnight stays for non-resident tourists. The overnight stays of resident visitors increased by 1.7 per cent and those of non-resident visitors by 16.0 per cent from the previous year's January to July.

The number of nights spent by Russian visitors at accommodation establishments in Finland totalled good 497,000 in January to July 2017, which was 18.4 per cent up on the respective period of 2016. They were still the biggest country of inbound tourism to Finland. Germans came second with close on 386,000 overnight stays. The figure went up by 13.0 per cent from January to July 2016. Swedes were in third position with nearly 370,000 overnight stays. Their overnight stays increased by 10.5 per cent. British visitors came next with close on 274,000 overnight stays. The increase from the corresponding period last year was 23.5 per cent. Overnight stays by Dutch and Spanish visitors also grew strongly in January to July. Overnight stays by Dutch tourists increased by 30.6 per cent and accommodation establishments recorded 156,000 of them. Overnight stays recorded for Spanish visitors numbered 75,000, which was one-fifth more than in January to July 2016.

Among the most important countries of inbound tourism to Finland, overnight stays by Chinese visitors increased most in January to July 2017. Nights spent by Chinese visitors rose to nearly 179,000, which was 46.3 per cent more than in the corresponding period in 2016. However, more overnight stays were recorded for French visitors than for Chinese ones, 185,000, which was 13.0 per cent more than in January to July 2016.

Change in overnight stays in January-July 2017/2016, %

Source: Accommodation Statistics. Statistics Finland

Inquiries: Marjut Tuominen 029 551 3556, Ossi Nurmi 029 551 2984, liikenne.matkailu@stat.fi

Director in charge: Sami Saarikivi

Publication in pdf-format (365.6 kB)

Updated 14.9.2017

Referencing instructions: Official Statistics of Finland (OSF): Accommodation statistics [e-publication].

ISSN=1799-6325. July 2017. Helsinki: Statistics Finland [referred: 20.9.2020].

Access method: http://www.stat.fi/til/matk/2017/07/matk_2017_07_2017-09-14_tie_001_en.html