Services subject to charge (3.4)
There are services subject to charge related to the recreational use of forests16 and nature tourism that are estimated to be of economic significance. The National Forest Programme 2015 estimates the added value of nature tourism in 2008 at about EUR 800 million, one fourth of the added value of tourism as a whole. Indeed, the natural environment is one of the strongest attraction factors in tourism in Finland.
According to Metsähallitus statistics, the financial impact of national parks, State hiking areas and certain other conservationareas with tourism significance on local economies amounted to EUR 143.5 million in 2010. Converted into employment, this is the equivalent of 1,840 person-years.
However, the vast majority of the recreational use of forests in Finland is free of charge for private persons under Everyman’s Rights.
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16 Recreational use comprises all outdoor leisure activities undertaken in forests |
