Finland’s tourism industry is suffering from the poor timing of the school summer break. Tourism services are closing just as the holiday season is getting underway in Central Europe. The Port of Helsinki has published a petition calling for school summer holidays to be shifted later in the year.

The Finnish summer is beautiful yet extremely short – at least from the tourism industry’s perspective.

When the summer break ends in early August, domestic tourism comes to a screeching halt. Young people working in tourism go back to school, which means that services will close. Central Europeans vacationing in Finland in August are greeted by closed doors, and many return home disappointed.

“A 2018 report by the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment estimated that shifting the school summer break by two weeks would generate an additional EUR 220 million in revenue for the tourism industry. So we’re not talking about small sums here, but rather a significant competitive advantage and a boost to Finland’s international image. However, the matter was shelved and the shift was never implemented,” says Kaj Takolander, Vice President of Passenger Services at the Port of Helsinki.

According to a report published last year by MaRa and PAM, the financial impact of shifting school holidays would be even greater: an estimated revenue increase of EUR 336 million for the sector.

“A slight change in the timing of holidays could generate hundreds of millions in additional revenue for Finland. It’s time to update our summer break calendar,” says Takolander.

The school year could be divided into three terms instead of two. The autumn term could run from the beginning of September to mid-December. The spring term could run from Epiphany (6 January) to Easter, when there would be a week-long break. The summer term would then run from Easter to mid-June.

Widespread support for shifting school holidays

The Ministry of Education is currently conducting a study on shifting the holiday season. It’s hoped that the report will provide a comprehensive overview of the effects that shifting the holiday season would have on tourism, the economy, employment, children’s wellbeing and families’ daily lives. A petition launched by the Port of Helsinki calls not only for research, but also for concrete decisions on rescheduling school holidays.

The idea has broad support within the tourism industry.

“I strongly support shifting school holidays. It would be an important change for Finland’s economic growth. Tourism is a major export sector, and unlike other export sectors, it’s the only one that pays value-added tax in Finland. The direct and indirect impacts of tourism are significant,” says Tomi Lohikoski, Managing Director of Moominworld.

He says that the holiday season cannot be extended without rescheduling the school summer break.

“It’s a matter of both workforce and demand. Many tourism companies would not be profitable without domestic demand, as international demand alone would not be sufficient – at least not initially.” School started on 7 August last year, and there were hardly any services left open in the archipelago after that.

Laura Tarkka, Head of Scandic Hotels in Finland, also believes that shifting the school holidays would have favourable impacts on the tourism and restaurant industry.

“If we shift our school holidays, we will be better able to provide services to both domestic and international travellers. Extending the holiday season would also have significant impacts on employment, and particularly by extending the working season for young summer workers.”

Jari Ahjoharju, CEO of Visit Tampere, is on the same page.

“Moving the school summer break two weeks later in the year would improve Finland’s tourism offering for European tourists in particular.”

Note!

Visit http://www.adressit.com to sign the petition.