Last year, 2,6 million Russians traveled to Finland across the southern borders. This year, the number is estimated to increase by 30 percent, reports Helsingin Sanomat.
According to TAK Oy, a research and analysis company that monitors tourism and cross border trade from Russia, between 5,000 and 10,000 jobs have been created in Finland following the boom in Russian visitors.
The company’s managing director Pasi Nurkka, Russian tourists spent €680 million in Finland last year.
In the Province of South Karelia, the Russian visitors are already spending so much money that the local shops’ tax-free sales exceed those of the stores in the Helsinki area.
