The popularity of Finland national parks Increasing
Still waiting for international tourism to recover in Finland
International tourists have returned to Finland, but larger groups are still missing. The war had a strong impact on tourism: a lot of tourists from Asia or Russia used to visit national parks, especially in Lapland and Eastern Finland.
“After a long break, travel from other countries to Finland started up again during the spring. However, the schedules for reopening have varied in different markets. The majority – more than 80% – of tourists arriving from outside Finland come from Europe. The most important markets are Germany, France, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and Sweden. However, there are still significantly fewer international overnight stays (-36%) than in 2019 before the pandemic. We’ll have to wait another year, perhaps even two, for tourism to return to normal, “says Senior Director Kristiina Hietasaari from Visit Finland.
People appreciate – and need – nature experiences
The pandemic and global crises have demonstrated the importance of national parks and other nature destinations in terms of health and well-being. “Visitors are satisfied with their national park visits. The reasons for this are the nature, landscapes, peace, and company of friends. Visitors are also pleased with the results of extensive repairs to hiking services, such as trails and campsites. Activity preferences have become increasingly diverse, and we try to respond to these in cooperation with tourism entrepreneurs as much as possible,” says Henrik Jansson.