The latest UN Tourism Barometer confirms that global arrivals reached 1.52 billion in 2025, but Finland outpaced the pack by logging an all-time high of 7.2 million foreign overnight stays—up 12 % on the previous year and quadruple the European average.
Drivers of growth: Business Finland attributes the surge to three factors: (1) a 24 % jump in Helsinki conference traffic after the opening of the Messukeskus expansion; (2) aggressive air-route rebuilding by Finnair, which restored 90 % of its Asian capacity; and (3) the “coolcation” phenomenon, where heat-weary travelers seek milder summers north of 60° N. German, Spanish and U.S. visitors led the charge, with July hotel occupancy in the capital hitting 88 %.
Travel documentation: With so many new arrivals expected, securing the right paperwork early is crucial. VisaHQ makes it easy for both leisure and corporate travelers to check requirements, submit electronic applications, and track visa processing for Finland in one place—visit https://www.visahq.com/finland/ for the latest guidelines and concierge support.
![Finland hits record 7.2 million foreign overnights as ‘coolcation’ trend soars]()
Corporate mobility impact: More overnight demand has tightened long-stay accommodation in metro areas, pushing serviced-apartment rates up 14 % year-on-year. Mobility managers should lock in corporate housing contracts early for summer 2026 assignments. The boom also improves viability for secondary airports—Tampere and Turku have each attracted new LCC links that shorten commute times for regional project sites.
Sustainability lens: Visit Finland says 60 % of new visitors booked rail or bus add-ons, validating investment in the country’s low-carbon tourism agenda. Companies can reference the Sustainable Travel Finland label when selecting vendors for incentive programmes.
Forecast: With the 2027 Nordic World Ski Championships in Lahti and the 2028 Arctic Circle Tech Expo in Rovaniemi on the horizon, analysts expect foreign overnights to break the 8-million mark by 2027, provided air capacity constraints ease.
Drivers of growth: Business Finland attributes the surge to three factors: (1) a 24 % jump in Helsinki conference traffic after the opening of the Messukeskus expansion; (2) aggressive air-route rebuilding by Finnair, which restored 90 % of its Asian capacity; and (3) the “coolcation” phenomenon, where heat-weary travelers seek milder summers north of 60° N. German, Spanish and U.S. visitors led the charge, with July hotel occupancy in the capital hitting 88 %.
Travel documentation: With so many new arrivals expected, securing the right paperwork early is crucial. VisaHQ makes it easy for both leisure and corporate travelers to check requirements, submit electronic applications, and track visa processing for Finland in one place—visit https://www.visahq.com/finland/ for the latest guidelines and concierge support.
Corporate mobility impact: More overnight demand has tightened long-stay accommodation in metro areas, pushing serviced-apartment rates up 14 % year-on-year. Mobility managers should lock in corporate housing contracts early for summer 2026 assignments. The boom also improves viability for secondary airports—Tampere and Turku have each attracted new LCC links that shorten commute times for regional project sites.
Sustainability lens: Visit Finland says 60 % of new visitors booked rail or bus add-ons, validating investment in the country’s low-carbon tourism agenda. Companies can reference the Sustainable Travel Finland label when selecting vendors for incentive programmes.
Forecast: With the 2027 Nordic World Ski Championships in Lahti and the 2028 Arctic Circle Tech Expo in Rovaniemi on the horizon, analysts expect foreign overnights to break the 8-million mark by 2027, provided air capacity constraints ease.
