Municipal leaders in Eastern Finland have come out against the Finance Ministry’s plan to let towns levy a local ‘tourist tax’, arguing that extra fees would push their struggling visitor economy over the edge. In interviews published late on 24 January by the regional daily Itä-Savo and aggregated by EADaily, officials from Savonlinna, Joensuu and Lappeenranta said the measure would be the “last nail in the coffin” for businesses already reeling from the loss of Russian tourists since the border closed in 2023. (eadaily.com)
Before the Ukraine war, visitors from nearby St Petersburg accounted for up to 60 % of overnight stays in South Karelia. Four years of zero arrivals have left hotels operating at winter occupancy rates below 25 %, according to Visit Karelia. Domestic travellers have not filled the gap and international tourists tend to favour Lapland.
For travellers still planning journeys to Finland despite shifting cost structures, VisaHQ provides up-to-date visa guidance, electronic application support and real-time status tracking that can smooth entry formalities whether you are arriving via Helsinki or regional airports. Their Finland portal (https://www.visahq.com/finland/) consolidates the latest consular requirements and processing times, helping both leisure visitors and corporate mobility managers adapt quickly to policy changes.
![Eastern Finland rejects proposed tourist tax, cites collapse of Russian visitor flows]()
Critics warn that a per-night levy—similar to those charged in Rome or Barcelona—would deter the price-sensitive Finnish holidaymakers the region is now courting. Instead, eastern municipalities want the central government to prioritise infrastructure, including the reinstatement of the Savonlinna–Parikkala rail link to improve access from Helsinki.
Tourism economists note that while a tax could raise €30 million nationally, the distribution would be uneven: Lapland and the Helsinki metropolitan area would reap most of the revenue, widening the regional divide. The debate underscores a broader mobility challenge for Finland: how to sustain cross-border tourism and related employment when geopolitical tensions shut traditional corridors.
For relocation and project teams stationed at pulp mills or energy sites in the east, the row may signal continued scarcity of hotel rooms and services in smaller towns as operators defer investment. Mobility professionals should monitor whether municipalities adopt differential tax rates or opt out entirely once the enabling legislation passes later this year.
Before the Ukraine war, visitors from nearby St Petersburg accounted for up to 60 % of overnight stays in South Karelia. Four years of zero arrivals have left hotels operating at winter occupancy rates below 25 %, according to Visit Karelia. Domestic travellers have not filled the gap and international tourists tend to favour Lapland.
For travellers still planning journeys to Finland despite shifting cost structures, VisaHQ provides up-to-date visa guidance, electronic application support and real-time status tracking that can smooth entry formalities whether you are arriving via Helsinki or regional airports. Their Finland portal (https://www.visahq.com/finland/) consolidates the latest consular requirements and processing times, helping both leisure visitors and corporate mobility managers adapt quickly to policy changes.
Critics warn that a per-night levy—similar to those charged in Rome or Barcelona—would deter the price-sensitive Finnish holidaymakers the region is now courting. Instead, eastern municipalities want the central government to prioritise infrastructure, including the reinstatement of the Savonlinna–Parikkala rail link to improve access from Helsinki.
Tourism economists note that while a tax could raise €30 million nationally, the distribution would be uneven: Lapland and the Helsinki metropolitan area would reap most of the revenue, widening the regional divide. The debate underscores a broader mobility challenge for Finland: how to sustain cross-border tourism and related employment when geopolitical tensions shut traditional corridors.
For relocation and project teams stationed at pulp mills or energy sites in the east, the row may signal continued scarcity of hotel rooms and services in smaller towns as operators defer investment. Mobility professionals should monitor whether municipalities adopt differential tax rates or opt out entirely once the enabling legislation passes later this year.
