Spain consistently ranks among the top international destinations for Finnish travellers due to its diverse offerings spanning from its Mediterranean and Atlantic coast, its historical inner mainland, to its beautiful archipelagos. This accessibility year-round contributes to Spain’s appeal as an all-season destination.
“We are greatly honored by Spain’s designation as the partner country for the Matka Travel Fair. This recognition brings significant visibility and the opportunity to provide Finnish travellers the latest information and updated destination tips for their 2024 travelling experiences in Spain. It is crucial for us to highlight not only new destinations but also the new experiences in traditional destinations,” expresses Julio E. Jiménez Novella, from the Spanish Tourist Office in Helsinki.
According to data from Statistics Finland for the period between January and April 2023, Finns made a total of 1.44 million leisure trips abroad with at least one overnight stay. By country, total of 300,000 leisure trips were made to Spain, which made it number one destination in the market for the first quarter. According to the 2022 statistics from the Association of Finnish Travel Industry (SMAL), Spain ranked second as a leisure travel package destination with 185,000 passengers, primarily to the Canary Islands, of which around 80 % chose it as their preferred destination. As the partner country, Spain aims to ignite inspiration among Finns to explore the responsible service initiatives of local providers.
“As a well-regarded destination for Matka Travel Fair attendees, Spain offers a plethora of sights and activities, complemented by a culinary culture that holds great significance for travellers. With the comprehensive visibility provided by the fair, we believe that visitors will gain fresh insights into Spain, seeing it as a versatile and contemporary travel destination. We are thrilled to offer Spanish exhibitors the opportunity to connect face-to-face with visitors and share their offerings as well as news,” states Noora Haatainen, Business Manager of Matka Travel Fair.
Responsible travel experiences, culinary journeys, outdoor activities, and family-friendly adventures are underlying themes of Matka Fair 2024, closely aligned with the objectives of a nearly one thousand travel organisations and companies worldwide participating as exhibitors.
Tags: Julio E. Jiménez Novella, Spanish Tourist Office, Association of Finnish Travel Industry (SMAL), Noora Haatainen, Matka Travel Fair.
