Hamina's direct tourism revenue in 2025 was 17 million euros

Direct income from tourism in the Kotka-Hamina region grew nicely in 2025. Direct tourism income totaled 87,5 million euros, or 3,1 percent more than in 2024, according to the recent Tourism Income and Employment Impact Study.

The total impact of tourism in the region in 2025 was up to 109 million euros, a growth of 3,1 percent. In addition to Kotka and Hamina, the Kotka-Hamina regional region includes Pyhtää, Miehikkälä and Virolahti.

Hamina's tourism revenue is growing rapidly

Hamina's direct tourism income grew by as much as 6,3 percent to 17 million euros in 2025, and the total impact of tourism by 6,2 percent to 21,4 million euros. Tourism income per resident of Hamina was 892 euros.

The value of the achievement is emphasized by the fact that 2025 was not the so-called Tattoo year in Hamina, as the Hamina Tattoo festival, which attracts many tourists, is only held in even-numbered years. A comparison with other cities shows that Hamina also has a higher direct tourism income than, for example, Hanko.

Tourism creates plenty of jobs on the East Coast

The direct employment impact of tourism in the Kotka-Hamina region in 2025 was 383 person-years, an increase of 2,7 percent. In Loviisa, tourism directly created 84 person-years of employment.

"The growth in tourism revenue does not happen by chance, but is the result of long-term cooperation between the region's businesses, municipalities and the development company. Tourism is the engine of the region's economy: it brings in significant revenue, strengthens employment and creates the conditions for new investments," says the tourism director. Ekaterina Miettinen from Cursor, a development company for the Kotka-Hamina region and Loviisa. 

It is particularly positive that tourism revenue increased, even though the general economic situation has been difficult. Throughout Finland, tourism revenue development was twofold in 2025. The Kotka–Hamina–Loviisa region is one of the areas where development has been in the right direction. 

*Tourism income and employment impact study

The Visit Kotka-Hamina subregion includes Kotka, Hamina, Miehikkälä, Pyhtää and Virolahti. In addition to these, the Visit Kotka-Hamina region also includes Loviisa. The regions are now participating in the national tourism income and employment study for the fourth time, which monitors the impacts of tourism at a national level. The study's tourism income and employment impacts have been calculated for the year 2025. A total of 47 tourism regions participated in the study, and the study was carried out by Visitory Oy, a company specializing in tourism research.

Power BI tool, which contains the results of the municipalities participating in the study: https://www.insights.visitory.io/fi/tourismincome

The Kotka-Hamina regional report has been carried out as part of the MAKEA – Rural Tourism in Southeast Finland project. The project has received EU rural funding from the Southeast Finland ELY Centre, whose tasks are currently carried out by the Southeast Finland Vitality Centre..