Finland again attracts record numbers of Russian tourists

A record number of Russian tourists are expected to arrive in Finland in order to spend the New Year in Finnish cottages and hotels.
      According to the Finnish Tourist Board, about 90,000 Russian tourists are spending their two-week Christmas and New Year season in Finland. The previous record of some 70,000 Russian travellers was set a year ago.
     
Actually, the cottages in Southeastern Finland are so popular that bookings are being made already for the next season, 2008/09.
      "The travel agency informed us that we should make a reservation already now if we wish to spend the next New Year here, too", reported Vadim Kovalev from St. Petersburg, sitting on the sofa of his rented cottage in Ruokolahti, in Southern Karelia.
      As a consequence of the boom in the tourism from Russia, there have again been long queues on the border crossing stations - this time caused by the Russian holiday rush and westbound traffic rather than the familiar tailbacks of trucks heading east. On Saturday it took three hours to cross the border at the Imatra border crossing.
     
The New Year starts the Russian holiday season. The majority of Eastern Orthodox Christian Churches celebrate Christmas on January 7th in the Gregorian Calendar, and subsequently, another New Year will follow in seven days.
      In Finland, Russian tourists wish to experience the Finnish Christmas with Christmas Eve Dinner and Father Christmas. Further expectations include peace and quiet, recreation, and maybe some shopping and sightseeing as well.
      Even though the present weather is far from idyllically wintry, most Russian visitors say that they will probably come to Finland for the next New Year as well.
     
Last year, Russian tourists became the largest proportion of all holidaymakers to Finland. Around 15 per cent of all overnight stays were made by visitors from Russia.
      The Russian holiday season starts at the end of December and lasts for two weeks. The holiday rush is bound to cause congestion on roads, trains, and airports.
      In addition to the three daily train service, a total of 33 extra holiday trains will be leaving Moscow for Finland during the holiday season.
     
The number of travellers arriving in Finland on the additional trains is nearly 40,000 people over the fortnight.
      In addition, dozens of charter flights head for Lapland during the holiday rush.
      Moreover, return traffic is expected to grow in Southeastern Finland next week. The Finnish Road Administration is predicting that the queue of Russian tourists’ vehicles alone will be at least eight kilometres long leading to the Vaalimaa crossing point.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Immigration and tourism from Russia boost economy and population of Eastern Finland (15.3.2005)
  Record queues threaten eastbound cross-border traffic at Christmas (13.12.2007)
  Finland fears number of Russian tourists may decline (13.3.2006)
  Christmas and New Year in Finland again attract Russian tourists (12.12.2005)

Links:
  Finnish Road Administration
  Gregorian Calendar (Wikipedia)