Photo: Finavia

Finavia, the Finnish airport operator, has announced an impressive expansion for the 2023–2024 winter season, opening 24 new routes across Europe. This development will allow direct flights from Finland to over 130 global destinations during the winter months.

Celebrations are underway across Finland as numerous new international connections begin.

A passenger checking in at the Helsinki-Vantaa airport in Vantaa. LEHTIKUVA

The summer of 2023 witnessed a resurgence of international leisure travel by Finns, nearly reaching the levels observed before the coronavirus pandemic. Between May and August, approximately 2.9 million overseas trips were taken, of which 2.6 million were overnight stays, while the remaining 0.3 million were day trips or cruises.

Travel to Estonia mirrored pre-pandemic levels, with the country receiving around 0.7 million Finnish leisure travelers from May to August.

LEHTIKUVA

As autumn vacations beckon, travelers planning to visit Sweden or Estonia should be well-informed about specific import restrictions, despite these countries being part of the European Union.

Notably, the import of wild boar meat has limitations due to African swine fever cases identified in Sweden.

Departure board at Helsinki-Vantaa Airport. LEHTIKUVA

In recent years, Finnish vacation plans have been influenced by various factors, including changes in the domestic and global economy. With the upcoming autumn holidays on the horizon, a survey conducted by POP Insurance sheds light on how these economic shifts affect the travel habits of the Finnish people. Interestingly, many are opting to reduce their international travels.

More than 750,000 tourists visit Helsinki on an annual basis. This is no great surprise when we consider the numerous attractions that this city has to offer as well as its decidedly welcoming population. Are you planning a trip in the near future? If so, it is always a good idea to create an itinerary in advance. Let's take a look at five sights that should never be missed.

The allure of Åland's archipelago continues to beckon Finnish tourists, even beyond the summer months, as the waters of the Baltic Sea remain warm well into autumn. With a short ferry ride away from the mainland, Åland offers a paradise of activities for nature enthusiasts, golfers, anglers, and food lovers alike.

Finnish tourists have now become the largest group of visitors to Åland, surpassing the Swedes, and this trend extends into the autumn season.

Finavia, the airport company overseeing Helsinki Airport, is on the cusp of wrapping up its 10-year development program set to conclude in autumn 2023. As a pivotal component of this endeavor, the modernization of baggage logistics has been finalized to enhance the efficiency of travel. Both departure and arrival baggage systems, alongside new facilities and equipment, have been successfully implemented.

Muumimaailma, the beloved family attraction nestled in Naantali, Finland, has been honored with two prestigious accolades at this year's European Travel Awards. The event, hosted by the renowned economic publication EU Business News, recognizes outstanding contributors to Europe's travel and leisure industry. Against a backdrop of unprecedented global challenges faced by the sector in recent years, these awards spotlight exceptional enterprises that have persevered and maintained their commitment to excellence.

Photo: Finavia Corporation

Airport operator Finavia is streamlining the security check process at Helsinki-Vantaa Airport and increasing the amount of liquids allowed in carry-on baggage to two liters per passenger.

"Traveling through Helsinki-Vantaa will become even more convenient starting from June 28. We have installed additional modern security screening devices at the airport,