Matka 2024: Greece a Favorite Destination for Finnish Travelers  

Photo source: Matka Nordic Travel Fair

Greece remains the leading travel choice for Finnish holidaymakers accounting for almost 41 percent of all trips to Europe, according to feedback collected during the Matka Nordic Travel Fair held in Helsinki, Finland, last week.

According to the Association of Finnish Travel Industry (smal.fi), a significant surge in air-based package holidays from Finland to international destinations in 2023 was reported last year with some 676,000 packages sold, reflecting a 31 percent rise over 2022.

Greek destinations were top picks for Finnish travelers, followed by Spain, this year’s partner country, which accounted for 32.3 percent of all trips to Europe.

Participating in this year’s Matka, with over 950 exhibitors and more than 50,000 visitors, was the Halkidiki Tourism Organization (HTO) as one of the co-exhibitors at the stand of the Greek National Tourism Organization (GNTO).

Halkidiki Tourism Organization General Director George Broutzas and associates at the MATKA Nordic Travel Fair 2024.

Based on data provided by smal.fi, demand for Greece was up in 2023 by 24.2 percent compared to 2022. Travelers from Finland prefer vacation packages and as of late are choosing tailor-made packages. The decisive factor for travel is the availability of direct flights to destinations of choice.

Helsinki-Thessaloniki route in April

Starting in April, Ryanair will connect Helsinki with Makedonia Airport in Thessaloniki paving the way for vacationers to visit Halkidiki and Central Macedonia. Matka visitors learned more about the tourism offerings there, including nature activities, gastronomy, and Blue Flag beaches. The HTO will be taking targeted actions to increase its share of tourists from Finland and the Scandinavian market overall, it said.

Photo source: Halkidiki Tourism Organization

Greece was the “Partner Country” during last year’s Matka Nordic Travel Fair.