Correlation study on domestic travel of Finnish people during epidemic

Covid pandemic negatively affected the tourism industry in many countries around the world. Finland is not spared. International travel was greatly disrupted but even the local tour- ist numbers fell drastically. In 2020 the number of overnight stays by domestic Finnish tourists fell as compared to 2019 figures. For understanding how this disruption realized itself in Fin- land, a local case of a Finnish travel agency, Scandi Travel, is chosen for closer examination. The thesis uses a mixed methods approach to assess the recovery and development of Finn- ish tourism in the post pandemic era by focusing on Scandi Travel. Data was collected through a questionnaire. Results showed that on average, Scandi Travel and its customers that took part in the study expect the tourism sector to recover between January and March next year. The perceived government performance was associated with a quicker recovery but thematic analysis showed that the company expects lower number of tourists in the post pandemic era. Further findings showed that the company is unsure about the real extent that the pandemic will have on tourism. They expect their operations and tourist behaviours to be impacted. Scandi Travel can increase customer engagement. The Covid-19 reaction is an excellent opportunity for Scandi Travel to become involved in their local environment. The company can copy examples from several tours and travel organizations which are stepping forward to help those in need of medical assistance. It is a good opportunity for positive publicity