Number of passengers plummeted
The number of passengers passing through the Port of Helsinki plummeted due to COVID-19 travel restrictions. In 2020, the number of liner traffic* passengers at the Port of Helsinki was 4.8 million, 59% less than the previous year.
| Liner traffic | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | Change-% 20/19 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stockholm | 2 286 000 | 2 262 000 | 375 700 | -83,4 % |
| Tallinn | 8 846 000 | 8 925 000 | 4 097 000 | -54,1 % |
| St. Petersburg | 209 000 | 196 000 | 2 | -100,0 % |
| Travemünde | 151 000 | 158 000 | 84 000 | -46,7 % |
| Mariehamn | 44 000 | 48 000 | 50 000 | 4,4 % |
| Others | 22 000 | 24 000 | 149 000 | 509,2 % |
| TOTAL | 11 558 000 | 11 614 000 | 4 757 000 | -59,0 % |
* liner traffic = regular ship traffic that operates according to a schedule, e.g. RoPax ferries operating between Tallinn and Helsinki.
The Tallinn route remained the busiest
The majority of the passengers, 4.1 million (-54.1%), travelled the route between Helsinki and Tallinn. At the time of the coronavirus pandemic, passengers were mainly commuters and those travelling for necessary family reasons.
The number of passengers on the Stockholm route plunged as the ships between the capitals of Finland and Sweden were entirely out of operation from March onwards. The total number of passengers on this route was as low as 376,000 (-83.4%).
The number of passengers on the route between Helsinki and Travemünde was 84,000 (-46.7%).
There was no traffic at all on the route between Helsinki and Saint Petersburg.
| City centre’s passenger harbours | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Passengers of liner traffic | 11 372 000 | 11 614 000 | 4 553 826 |
| Passengers of international cruise traffic |
518 000 | 605 000 | 0 |
| Vehicles | 1 982 000 | 1 988 000 | 1 319 000 |
| Ship visits | 5 519 | 5 578 | 4 330 |
Cruise traffic not realised
After record years, international cruise traffic was not realised at all in 2020 due to the travel restrictions. Not a single cruise ship or passenger arrived at the city. The situation was very unfortunate for the tourism industry in Helsinki and the Helsinki Metropolitan Area.
The schedule for the recovery of passenger traffic depends on bringing the pandemic under control and the success of the COVID-19 vaccinations. In the post-COVID-19 market, Finnish tourism has quality, enriching experiences and reliability to offer to international tourists.