Finland is a major exporting country where, economically speaking, tourism takes a back seat to forestry and the high-tech industry. Nonetheless, in 2009, it attracted 5.6 million international visitors – more or less the same number of people who live in this sparsely populated Nordic nation. Revenues from international travellers totalled just over €2 billion, while Finns spent €3.1 billion abroad, resulting in a revenue shortfall of €1.1 billion.

Although the tourism industry does not generate a positive balance for government coffers, starting in 2005, the number of international travellers who visited Finland was increasing, year on year, peaking at 6 million arrivals in 2008. There was a drop in numbers in 2009, when, thanks to the economic recession, 377,000 fewer foreigners travelled to the country. Its largest source markets are neighbouring Russia and Sweden, which in 2009 together represented 51% of inbound travel.