Geographia Polonica (2021) vol. 94, iss. 4

Travel preferences of Finnish cross-border tourists: Opportunities and limitations for Russian Karelia

Svetlana V. Kondrateva, Ekaterina A. Shlapeko

Geographia Polonica (2021) vol. 94, iss. 4, pp. 555-572 | Full text
doi: https://doi.org/10.7163/GPol.0220

Abstract

The study aims to examine travel preferences of Finnish cross-border tourists with special reference to the Republic of Karelia, Russia. Data were collected using paper-based and online surveys from 300 respondents travelling from Finland to the Russian Karelia. Although cross-border tourists are a significant part in the inbound tourist flow to Russian Karelia, several obstacles for this type of tourism have been revealed. Measures to stimulate Finnish tourists to travel to Russian Karelia are suggested. The results of this study can be used to improve Karelian tourist products by providing services as expected by tourists. The findings are limited to visitors of Russian Karelia and should therefore be interpreted with caution.

Keywords: cross-border tourism, Finnish cross-border tourists, Republic of Karelia, travel preferences, border region

Svetlana V. Kondrateva [svkorka@mail.ru], Department of Regional Economic Policy, Institute of Economics Karelian Research Centre, Russian Academy of Sciences 50 Al. Nevsky Prospect, 185030 Petrozavodsk: Republic of Karelia, Russia
Ekaterina A. Shlapeko [shlapeko_kate@mail.ru], Department of Regional Economic Policy, Institute of Economics Karelian Research Centre, Russian Academy of Sciences 50 Al. Nevsky Prospect, 185030 Petrozavodsk: Republic of Karelia, Russia