Oulu’s strong tourism growth continued in April 2026. A total of 65,800 paid overnight stays were recorded in Oulu, which is nearly 20 percent more than a year earlier. Growth was driven in particular by leisure travel and the strong growth of unregistered accommodations, such as apartment rentals and short-term rentals.
In April, 47,400 registered overnight stays were recorded, which is 13 percent more than the previous year. Domestic overnight stays increased by nearly 15 percent, while international registered overnight stays totalled 4,800.
– The Oulu2026 Capital of Culture year continues to have a very strong impact on tourism. The April figures show that interest in Oulu is not limited to individual events. Rather, tourists are arriving in the city steadily for a variety of reasons. It is particularly gratifying to see strong growth in leisure tourism as well as greater diversity in paid accommodations, says Y.T. Anderson, CEO of Visit Northern Finland Oy.
Leisure tourism grew strongly
In April, leisure travellers spent 31,800 registered overnight stays in Oulu, which is more than 40 percent higher than a year earlier. At the same time, business travel overnight stays decreased by nearly 20 percent.
Accommodation sales rose to 3.9 million euros in April, which is about 13 percent more than a year earlier. Unregistered accommodations accounted for 12 percent of sales.
Occupancy rates for accommodation also showed a positive trend. The room occupancy rate for registered accommodation establishments rose to over 60 percent, and occupancy rates for apartment and short-term rental accommodations also increased from the previous year.
Air traffic supports growth
In April, a total of 24,000 passengers arrived at Oulu Airport, which is nearly 17 percent more than a year earlier. The number of international air passengers grew by over 30 percent. In total, more than 50,000 passengers passed through the airport during April.
International growth was particularly evident from several European markets as well as Asia. The number of tourists arriving from France, Norway, Belgium, Poland, China, and Japan increased significantly during the first part of the year.
A busy summer is expected
The outlook for tourism in Oulu this summer is promising. According to overnight stay forecasts, the number of paid overnight stays is expected to grow by an average of nearly 24 percent over the next six months compared to last year.
During the summer, Oulu and the Oulu2026 region will be enlivened by events such as the opening of the Climate Clock art series, the Art II Biennale, the Delta Life weekend, the Air Guitar World Championships, the Summer Night’s Dinner, and the premiere of the immersive “Faravid’s Land” show. The Capital of Culture programme is visible throughout the region and supports the growth of tourism during the summer season as well.