The aim of this study is to discuss where the Finns travel and from what countries people come to Finland.

WHERE DO THE FINNS TRAVEL?

In the year 1999 the Finns took 2.1 million holiday trips abroad. 1.3 million of them where long trips and the rest, 800,000, were short trips. The Finns also went on almost 2 million cruises and about 700,000 day trips abroad.

The Finns’ favourite places to travel are the Canary Islands, the Mediterranean countries like Greece and Spain and also our neighbour Sweden. In recent years the Finns have also taken more exotic trips to places in the Middle East and the rest of Asia and Northern Africa. The Finns try to escape the freezing cold of the North to foreign countries, so it's pretty important that there is a warm climate where they travel. Short trips, cruises and day trips were made to Estonia, Sweden and Russia.

The Finns also took 3 million trips inside their home country. Over the half of them headed to Lapland. Short trips headed to the capital district and other big cities.

THE FINNS’ FAVOURITE PLACES TO TRAVEL: TOP 10

Spain, The Canary Islands, Greece, Sweden, Mainland Spain, Estonia, Italy, United Kingdom, Germany, France

FROM WHAT COUNTRIES DO PEOPLE COME TO FINLAND?

In the year 1999-2000 about 1.3 million foreigners visited Finland. Most of these visitors came from Russia, Sweden and Estonia.

The foreigners who come to Finland, mainly to Lapland, want to have a new experience of northern lights, to meet the original Santa Claus, to have a reindeer racing and to do cross country and downhill skiing in the nature of Lapland.

In the summer foreigners come to Finland to do camping or enjoy the Finnish tradition of summer cottages. They are interested in ”nightless nights”, the peace of nature and Finnish traditions like the sauna.