The tourism revenue of the Riihimäki region was 35 million euros in 2022

A study on the income and employment impacts of tourism has been carried out for the first time in the Riihimäki region, i.e. Loppi, Riihimäki and Hausjärvi. The direct tourism income of the Riihimäki region was 35,12 million euros and the direct person-years of work generated by tourism were 167 work-years in 2022. Tourism is a significant factor in the region's income and employment.

The direct tourism income of the Riihimäki region was 35 million euros in 2022, according to a study by TAK Research. Accommodation and restaurant activities generated 6 million, which is 17% of the total income. Fuel sales and retail trade generated 23 million euros, or 65%. Transport services generated 1 million and recreation and other services 5 million. Employment services were more evenly distributed, i.e. direct tourism employment was 30% in accommodation and restaurant activities, 30% in fuel sales and retail trade, 24% in transportation services and 17% in recreation and other services. In total, direct tourism employment was 166,71 person-years.

“It was very interesting to see the income and employment effects of tourism in the Riihimäki region,” commented Pauliina Lindgren, Marketing and Communications Manager at Visit Riihimäki. Visit Riihimäki started tourism marketing for the three municipalities in the summer of 2021, and a website presenting the region's tourism offerings was launched in January 2022. “We have gained a lot of visibility and we have been found well according to online analytics,” Lindgren continues. “However, it was great to see that euros and person-years have also been generated as a direct result of tourism. It is good to continue this.”

According to the study, the Riihimäki region received direct wage income from tourism for those employed of 5,93 million euros. Municipal tax revenue from direct wage income was 884 euros. Tourism accounted for 000% of the turnover of all industries in the Riihimäki region. The total impact of tourism was 1,35 million euros.

The rest of Kanta-Häme, Uusimaa, Pirkanmaa, Southwest Finland, Oulu and Kuusamo also participated in the same study. The study was carried out by TAK Research. Hämeenlinna's tourism revenue increased significantly compared to the previous study (2021). Data was obtained for other Kanta-Häme sub-regions as a basis for future comparisons. The Hämeenlinna sub-region collects approximately 60 percent of the province's tourism revenue, with the rest divided fairly evenly between the Forssa and Riihimäki sub-regions.

The growth potential of the tourism industry is still enormous

Tourism is one of Finland's most important industries. It creates jobs and tax revenue across the country. Before the pandemic, tourism exports accounted for 5,4 percent of Finland's total export revenue. However, tourism has consistently been overshadowed by other major Finnish industries over the years, despite its growing importance. This is probably partly because most tourism companies are small and fall under several different sectors, which can make it difficult to understand the overall impact of the industry. However, tourism has been growing strongly for years, except for the pandemic years, and the industry's growth potential is still enormous. New research findings can help to better highlight the industry's impact.

 

More information: www.visitriihimaki.fi

Ninni Manninen, Fair Director, Visit Riihimäki / RTOY, 050 362 6051, ninni.manninen@riihimaenmessut.fi

Pauliina Lindgren, Marketing and Communications Manager, Visit Riihimäki / RTOY, 0505164004, pauliina.lindgren@riihimaenmessut.fi

The research was conducted by TAK Research, a research company founded in 1991 and specializing in tourism research. Among other things, it interviews over 10 foreign tourists visiting Finland each year and has conducted numerous studies and surveys focused on tourism and the tourism economy.