The income and employment impact of Helsinki Expo and Convention Centre’s record-breaking congress year has already exceeded €50m for the Finnish capital, the management team reports. The six international congresses hosted by the Centre brought more than 25,000 delegates to Helsinki during the first half of the year and boost the goal of the Helsinki Tourism Advisory Board to double the tourism revenue generated by foreign visitors and significantly increase employment in the sector in Helsinki by 2030.
“International congresses and corporate events offer enormous growth potential for boosting the tourism industry and economic growth in Helsinki and throughout Finland. According to Helsinki Convention Bureau, one congress participant spends an average of €2,000 in the host country. Congresses generate income and jobs for the hotel and restaurant sector, passenger transport, retail, and other service companies,” said Laura Tarkka, chair of the Helsinki Tourism Advisory Board and COO of Scandic Finland and Europe.
Research by Helsinki Convention Bureau also shows that most congress participants are first-time visitors to Finland, and a significant proportion consider returning for leisure travel.
“Our goal is to double the tourism revenue generated by visitors in Helsinki by 2030. At the same time, the number of employed people is estimated to increase by nearly 50%,” Tarkka added.
“As Finland’s leading event organiser, we are aiming for strong growth and want to set an example for Finnish businesses through our investments. The new Messukeskus Arena is a €6m investment that will be inaugurated at the Nordic Business Forum at the end of September. The future event space Solar is a €20m construction project scheduled for completion in autumn 2027,” said Anni Vepsäläinen, CEO of Helsinki Expo and Convention Centre.
This September the European Paediatric Rheumatology Congress PRES will bring around 1,000 international visitors to Helsinki Expo, generating approximately €2m in economic and employment impact.
