Finland’s national tourism organization, Visit Finland, wrapped up a roadshow across Hong Kong, Beijing, and Shanghai from 24 to 28 March 2025, aiming to rekindle tourism ties with China—its largest Asian market. A delegation of 25 Finnish tourism companies joined the promotional tour to deepen business connections and present Finland’s post-pandemic travel opportunities.
According to Teemu Ahola, Director of International Operations at Visit Finland, Chinese travelers now rank eighth globally in overnight stays in Finland. Chinese tourist overnight stays increased by more than 60 percent in 2024 compared to the previous year, signaling a strong rebound.
“We are here today with our 25 supplier partners. It is a sign that we value the market,” says Ahola.
Finland is renowned for its natural beauty, including 41 national parks, and cultural experiences like lakeside sauna sessions. Its northern regions, especially Lapland, remain major attractions for Chinese tourists.
A key takeaway from the roadshow is Finland’s traveler-friendly infrastructure for Chinese visitors.
“Finland was one of the first European countries to adopt Alipay,” says Ahola.
Mobile payment methods such as Alipay and WeChat Pay are now widely accepted, particularly in high-traffic destinations like Santa Claus Village.
Travel accessibility is also improving. Finnair will increase its Shanghai-Helsinki direct flights to four per week starting summer 2025. Juneyao Airlines will continue operating its Shanghai, Zhengzhou, and Helsinki routes, enhancing connectivity between the two nations.
Source: chinadaily.com
