Experts interviewed by Izvestia have different assessments of the consequences of closing Finland’s borders.
Thus, Heli Simola, Senior Economist at the Bank of Finland Institute for Emerging Economies (BOFIT), expects that “the economic effect of the decision will be limited for the Finnish economy as a whole and at the regional level.”
“Although the announcement of partial mobilization in Russia last week caused a peak in the number of arrivals from Russia, especially to Eastern Finland, in general, the number of visitors from Russia in previous years has already fallen to very low levels, mainly due to the pandemic,” the expert explained. “Izvestia”.
According to the Finnish Statistics Office, the share of Russian tourists staying in accommodation facilities (hotels, hotels, apartments) in 2021 was only 0.1-0.3%, the economist said.
Foreign policy adviser of the Finnish National Coalition Party (third in parliament) Henry Vanhanen noted that “the reduction in tourist flows and trade with Russia will affect economic activity in the border regions.”
“Nevertheless, polls show that most Finns are ready for further tightening of economic sanctions against Russia, despite the rising cost of living and economic losses,” the politician told Izvestia.
There has not been such a break in economic ties between Finland and Russia for 80 years – the last time there was a recession in 1939-1946, but then Helsinki and Moscow established cooperation, President of the Russian Association for Baltic Studies Nikolai Mezhevich explained to Izvestia.
Read more in the exclusive Izvestia article:
“Let him wait on the other side”
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