Border traffic between Russia and Finland is boosting to an all-time high peak this year. If the traffic continues for the last few months, 2010 is seeing an increase of about ten percent, reports Helsingin Sanomat.
The increase is mainly due to the easing of Russia’s customs regulations. Until earlier this year Russians have been allowed to bring no more than 35 kilograms of goods worth up to €1,500 once a month from trips abroad for personal use. The new rules say now that the total weight can be 50 kilograms and the person can travel as often he wants.
The increase in border crossings is especially seen at the Nuijamaa crossing near Lappeenranta as well as the Imatra crossing, also on the road from St. Petersburg to Helsinki, according to Helsingin Sanomat.
Two thirds of the people crossing the border are Russian citizens. Many border crossers go to South Karelia for shopping and weekend tourist trips. Tax-free sales in shops in Lappenranta and Imatra to non-EU visitors have grown by one quarter this year, reports Helsingin Sanomat. Russians go for shopping in Finland attracted by better quality of goods, as well as lower prices on the Finnish side.
The border crossings have also boosted at the Norwegian-Russian border in the north as previously reported by BarentsObserver. Especially on Saturdays are many people from the Kola Peninsula driving over to the Norwegian border town of Kirkenes for shopping.
The number of Russians crossing the border to Norway is up 35 percent in August compared to the same period last year.
