Income and employment impact of Helsinki Expo and Convention Centre

21.08.2025

The six international congresses hosted by Helsinki Expo and Convention Centre brought more than 25,000 congress guests to Helsinki during the first half of the year.

The income and employment impact of the congresses for Finland and Helsinki amounts to more than 50 million euros. The goal of the Helsinki Tourism Advisory Board is to double the tourism revenue generated by foreign visitors and significantly increase employment in the sector in Helsinki by 2030.

Finland’s reputation as the most popular Nordic country for hosting international congresses, and Helsinki’s recognition as a valued destination city among congress participants, is also reflected in the busy congress year at Helsinki Expo and Convention Centre. During the first half of the year, six international congresses brought more than 25,000 participants to Helsinki, generating an income and employment impact of over 50 million euros.

”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 euros in the host country. Congresses generate income and jobs for the hotel and restaurant sector, passenger transport, retail, and other service companies,” says Laura Tarkka, chair of the Helsinki Tourism Advisory Board and COO of Scandic Finland and Europe.

The income and employment impacts of congresses extend well into the long term. Research by Helsinki Convention Bureau 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 percent,” Tarkka says. 

Helsinki Expo and Convention Centre is growing along with Helsinki and will make significant investments in the coming years to support the growth brought by international congresses and corporate events.

”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 six-million-euro investment that will be inaugurated at the Nordic Business Forum at the end of September. The future event space Solar is a 20-million-euro construction project scheduled for completion in autumn 2027,” says Anni Vepsäläinen, CEO of Helsinki Expo and Convention Centre.

Helsinki Expo and Convention Centre’s congress year continues in September, when the European Paediatric Rheumatology Congress PRES will bring around 1,000 international visitors to Helsinki, generating approximately two million euros in economic and employment impact.