Record number of Russian tourists this year
Lappeenranta overtakes Helsinki as primary destination
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More than two million Russian tourists are expected to arrive in Finland across the south-eastern frontier this year. The figure is an all-time record.
These numbers do not include trips made by Russian truck-drivers.
Lappeenranta has this year overtaken Helsinki as the most popular destination for Russian travellers. The majority of the tourists overnighted with friends locally.
The financial crisis does not as yet appear to be posing a very serious threat to the tourism flow, for the lure of duty-free purchases and Finland as a destination seem to be holding their popularity.
This year around 15% more Russians will come to Finland than in 2007.
The number of business trips is on the wane, but holiday and shopping visits are more than making up the difference. In addition, there is a good deal of traffic in the form of visits to relatives living here.
Since 2006, it has been possible to take only one delivery of less than 35 kilos of goods a month to Russia without having to declare it to Customs to pay duty on it, so the so-called "kilo-girls" have to all intents and purposes disappeared.
In past times, people coming west to stock up on things would carry additional passengers along with them, as it was possible to take a personal allowance of up to 50 kilos of goods from Finland to Russia once a week.
Russian visitors are estimated to spend around EUR 460 million in Finland this year on purchases of goods and services.
The period after Christmas and into the New Year is particularly popular, as many Russians celebrate Christmas and New Year's Day according to both the Gregorian and Julian calendars.
Finnish ski-resorts and spa hotels are hoping to be packed with Russian visitors in late December and during the first two weeks of January.
These numbers do not include trips made by Russian truck-drivers.
Lappeenranta has this year overtaken Helsinki as the most popular destination for Russian travellers. The majority of the tourists overnighted with friends locally.
The financial crisis does not as yet appear to be posing a very serious threat to the tourism flow, for the lure of duty-free purchases and Finland as a destination seem to be holding their popularity.
This year around 15% more Russians will come to Finland than in 2007.
The number of business trips is on the wane, but holiday and shopping visits are more than making up the difference. In addition, there is a good deal of traffic in the form of visits to relatives living here.
Since 2006, it has been possible to take only one delivery of less than 35 kilos of goods a month to Russia without having to declare it to Customs to pay duty on it, so the so-called "kilo-girls" have to all intents and purposes disappeared.
In past times, people coming west to stock up on things would carry additional passengers along with them, as it was possible to take a personal allowance of up to 50 kilos of goods from Finland to Russia once a week.
Russian visitors are estimated to spend around EUR 460 million in Finland this year on purchases of goods and services.
The period after Christmas and into the New Year is particularly popular, as many Russians celebrate Christmas and New Year's Day according to both the Gregorian and Julian calendars.
Finnish ski-resorts and spa hotels are hoping to be packed with Russian visitors in late December and during the first two weeks of January.
Helsingin Sanomat