According to recent tourism statistics, Kainuu’s accommodation sales last year were over 59 million euros, with overnight stays by foreign tourists increasing while domestic tourists decreased.
In Kainuu tourism, accommodation sales increased by EUR 6.8 million last year from the previous year. According to recent tourism statistics, sales totalled EUR 59.1 million last year.
A total of 1.3 million nights were spent by tourists in Kainuu in January-December. The total number of overnight stays increased by 7.2% from the previous year. Overnight stays by foreign tourists increased by 39% year-on-year, while domestic tourists’ nights fell by 5%.
According to the Kainuu Federation, the decline is explained by the fact that after the interest rate restrictions were lifted, Finns went abroad on holiday. Higher fuel prices and inflation also made tourists prefer local travel.
Last year, foreign tourists from Germany, Sweden, Estonia, the Netherlands and France arrived in Kainuus. The most overnight stays were recorded for tourists who arrived from Germany, China and Estonia.
Vuokatti fourth most popular destination in Finland
Sotkamon Vuokatti was the fourth most popular travel destination in Finland last year, right after the big cities, Helsinki, Tampere and Turku.
Tourists spent a total of 742,000 nights in Vuokatti last year. 100,000 overnight stays were recorded in Kajaani, 49,300 in Suomussalmi and 18,500 in the Ukkohalla-Paljaka area. However, in December, the destinations of Lapland and Kuusamo became the most popular travel destination from Kainuu thanks to international charter flights.
Trips made through Kajaani Airport increased by 44.4 percent from the previous year, despite the short flight break. A total of 25,400 trips were made through Kajaani Airport last year. Correspondingly, in the normal tourism year of 2019, 87,200 trips were made through Kajaani Airport.
According to the Kainuu association, it would be important to get the people of Kainuu to use flights from Kajaani airport when there is an opportunity.
*The topic can be discussed until 23:00 on January 28.*