The survey results in Estonia showed that the vast majority of the respondents would like to travel somewhere already this summer if the travel restrictions are lifted, with for example 54%** of the respondents indicating they would like to travel to Finland. Only 5% of the respondents indicated that they would prefer to travel within their own country and 21% that they would like to travel further afield than the Nordics and Baltics.

In Finland, similarly, the majority of the respondents indicated that, if allowed, they would like to travel to Estonia and Sweden this summer, with 48% saying they are planning to travel to Tallinn this summer and 27% planning to travel to Stockholm. In Finland, only 2% of the respondents said they would like to travel somewhere further afield and 13% indicated planning to holiday in Finland this summer.

In Sweden the number of people planning to holiday at home this year was largest of the three countries with 46% of the respondents indicating they were planning to holiday in Sweden this summer, but around a quarter of the respondents also in Sweden said they are planning to spend some time this summer in neighbouring countries. For example, 23% of the Swedish respondents said they plan to travel to Helsinki, 20% to Tallinn and 11% also to Riga. 14% of Swedish respondents also indicated they plan to travel elsewhere in Europe and only 4% of the respondents said they do not plan to travel anywhere at all.

Approximately half of the respondents in all three countries said they would like to go on a short cruise to neighbouring countries this summer, if the restrictions are lifted.

In all three countries the largest number of respondents plan to travel this summer with their spouses or partners, or with their families and children. The number of respondents planning to travel with families and children is greatest in Estonia, with 53% of the respondents indicating they plan to take their offspring on holiday this summer.

When asked what is most important for you on a cruise when travel restrictions are lifted, respondents in Estonia highlighted great entertainment (62%), enhanced safety measures for virus prevention onboard (60%) and great shopping opportunities (58%), and respondents in Sweden highlighted enhanced safety measures for virus prevention (32%), great food & drink (31%) and good value cabin prices (15%). In a separate brand survey*** in Finland, respondents also indicated that a safe way to travel (75%) and hygiene (71%) and a good selection of restaurants and cafes with a good selection of food (68%) topped the list of things considered important on a cruise after restrictions are lifted.

Commenting on the survey findings, Tallink Grupp's CEO Paavo Nõgene, said:

"Our survey clearly shows that the people in the Baltic sea region countries are making plans for this summer and these plans predominantly focus on the possibilities and options they have close to home. The residents of Estonia, Finland and Sweden are understandably weary of travelling to distant shores right now while the pandemic situation globally is far from over, but there is also some weariness of staying at home for too long and clearly some desire there to at least go exploring somewhere near home and somewhere safe.

"Estonians, Finns and Swedes are clearly continuously monitoring the epidemic situation in neighbouring countries closely and some travel confidence has been boosted due to a fairly similar pandemic situation in the Baltics and most of the Nordics. The recent improvement in the situation in the Baltics and Finland has led to the survey results we see today whereby travelling to neighbouring countries is very much on the agenda for this summer, providing restrictions are lifted.

"Our view is that by lifting the travel restrictions with neighbouring countries with similar pandemic situations and by facilitating travelling in our local region, the governments will enable safer travel for many this summer and prevent people seeking alternative opportunities further afield."

*The surveys were carried out among Tallink Grupp’s loyalty programme Club One members in May 2020. The number of respondents by country was: 520 in Estonia, 1460 in Sweden and 3702 in Finland.

** Respondents were able to choose multiple answers.

***The brand choice drivers survey was carried out in Finland in May 2020 with 1143 respondents.