Finland’s national tourism authority, Visit Finland, and 25 Finnish tourism companies have concluded a roadshow in China, visiting Hong Kong, Beijing, and Shanghai. The three-city tour aimed to deepen partnerships with China, Finland’s largest Asian tourism market, and explore new opportunities for collaboration.
“We are here today with our 25 supplier partners. It is a sign that we value the market,” Teemu Ahola, director of International Operations at Visit Finland. According to him, Chinese travelers now rank eighth globally in overnight stays in Finland, nearing pre-pandemic levels and maintaining their position as Finland’s top Asian source market.
“If we look into Chinese overnight stays in Finland in 2024, we see the one-year growth has been over 60% compared to 2023. However, it’s still a long way to go, and that’s why we are here to bring back the business.”
In 2024, Chinese tourists spent an average of €1,435 ($1,555) per visit, topping spending rankings among international visitors to Finland. According to Ahola, winter trips to Lapland to see the Northern Lights remain a major attraction for Chinese travelers.
To better engage with Chinese consumers, Visit Finland announced plans to relaunch its presence on Xiaohongshu, or RedNote, in 2025, leveraging the platform to promote Finland’s natural attractions and cultural experiences.
Finland has made significant efforts to accommodate Chinese tourists. Mobile payment options like Alipay and WeChat Pay are now widely accepted, particularly in popular destinations such as Santa Claus Village in Lapland.
In addition, Finnair is announcing plans to increase its Shanghai-Helsinki direct flights to four weekly in the summer 2025. Juneyao Airlines, another key partner, will continue operating flights between Shanghai, Zhengzhou, and Helsinki, further enhancing accessibility.
Source: China Daily
