According to a recent survey, domestic travel is still of interest - city destinations remain popular with summer travellers

Press release | Thu Jun 27 08:41:00 2024

This summer, Finnish holidaymakers are increasingly favouring domestic travel alongside leisure travel abroad. According to a survey conducted by Lapland Hotels, up to 93% of respondents plan to travel to popular domestic destinations this summer. Among respondents, intentions to travel abroad have decreased by 5% since last year.

Almost 1,800 loyal guests of the hotel chain, as well as Facebook and Instagram users, responded in the survey* conducted by Lapland Hotels in May-June . The survey shows that there will be just as much domestic travel this summer as a year ago. 36% of respondents said they also plan to go abroad in the summer.

41% of respondents will travel to Lapland in the summer, while 80% spend their holidays in Finnish city destinations.

"According to our study, summer holiday travel looks better than expected given the general economic situation and consumer confidence. Last-minute bookings are very typical for summer travel, so the situation changes all the time," says Ari Vuorentausta, CEO of Lapland Hotels.

July is the busiest time for travelling in Finland. Lapland is also visited in August-September, with cities experiencing the most summer tourism in July and August.

"Helsinki and Tampere are the most popular city destinations. According to the survey, Oulu and Kuopio are the next most popular. Travellers clearly appreciate service and convenience, as most of the respondents stay in hotels during their summer holidays," says Vuorentausta.

Attractions, nature and restaurants play an important role

Finland is a large country with diverse tourist destinations and a rich and varied nature: Lapland, Finnish Lakeland and many major cities offer holidaymakers a wide range of options.

"According to the survey, sights, nature activities and various events are highlighted in the selection criteria for a summer destination. High-quality restaurant and cultural offering are also important when deciding on a holiday destination. We are particularly pleased by the fact that the quality of restaurant experience has become a significant factor, as we have been successfully investing in our restaurant offering for years and have received a lot of praise from our customers for it," says Vuorentausta.

In Lapland, summer tourists are fascinated by mountain biking in national landscapes and parks, among other things. Hiking on foot is also popular.

“In recent years, plenty of walking and mountain bike trails have been restored, so there are now great opportunities for outdoor activities in Lapland's nature. In the summer, Lapland Safaris offers a comprehensive range of rental equipment at Ounasvaara and Saariselkä in Rovaniemi, including fat bikes, downhill mountain bikes, kayaks and canoes. In the Saariselkä area, guided excursions are also organised in summer, for example to the local husky or reindeer farms," Vuorentausta continues.

Staycations are popular with all ages

Mini staycations to or near your home have grown steadily in popularity both during the summer holiday period and beyond.

"Staycations interest respondents of all ages, young and old, regardless of income level. The older generation has also discovered staycations. In our view, their popularity is partly due to the fact that staycations are short and do not require travelling far. In other words, they are an effortless and, if desired, quite inexpensive way to take a break from everyday life, even during the holiday season," Vuorentausta says.

*The survey was conducted as an online survey among Lapland Hotels’ loyal customers and Facebook and Instagram users between 28 May and 6 June 2024. A total of 1,757 persons responded to the survey.

Images: https://lapland.emmi.fi/l/s2MJFRPFmmtX
Image copyrights: Lapland Hotels & Safaris

Media inquiries: Ari Vuorentausta, CEO, Lapland Hotels, +358 400 419 896,
ari.vuorentausta@laplandhotels.com

Travel enterprise Lapland Hotels & Safaris offers Northern experiences for all the senses. It consists of Finland’s largest private hotel chain, Lapland Hotels, the largest event service company in the Nordic countries, Lapland Safaris and Lapland Ski Resorts. The group has approximately 1,950 employees.

Lapland Hotels has 19 hotels, more than 2,600 rooms and apartments as well as over 11,000 restaurant seats around Finland, in Ylläs, Levi, Saariselkä, Rovaniemi, Olos, Luosto, Kilpisjärvi, Pallas, Hetta, Helsinki, Tampere, Oulu and Kuopio, and Haikko Manor and Spa in Porvoo.

Lapland Safaris offers unique outdoor activities in five destinations in Lapland: Rovaniemi, Ylläs, Saariselkä, Levi and Luosto.

Lapland Ski Resorts comprises five ski centres located in Ylläs, Luosto, Olos, Pallas and Rovaniemi. www.laplandhotels.com, www.laplandsafaris.com, www.haikko.fi/en