Last year Russian customers purchased tax-free goods to the value of almost 150 million EUR. In recent months, the drop in sales has accelerated significantly, Finnish Broadcasting Company YLE reports.
Sales to Russian visitors are down by as much as 20 percent in Rovaniemi, Tampere, Imatra and Lappeenranta. Visitors are spending much less on things like clothes, souvenirs and services.
Around 750 jobs in the South Karelia area are dependent on sales to Russian visitors. Russian speaking sales staff are now leaving small businesses and queuing up at larger department stores for work.
