Regional Socio-Economic Effects of Cottage Vacationing : explorative research and comparative analysis of Kuusamo
Lehto, Jinna (2025)
2025
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Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-202502172997
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-202502172997
Tiivistelmä
This thesis investigates the regional socio-economic effects of cottage vacationing in Kuusamo, Finland. Kuusamo, characterized by a high number of free-time residences relative to its small population, serves as a prime example of how cottage infrastructure can influence the region.
An exploratory research design was employed, utilizing freely available data from Statistics Finland, analyzed using Python’s advanced data processing libraries. The study conducts comparative analyses between Kuusamo and municipalities of similar population sizes, municipalities with similar number of cottages, and tourism volumes to contextualize findings.
The findings reveal that Kuusamo’s high number of cottages serves as a critical driver of regional economic vitality. The presence of over 7 500 free-time residences boosts the local economy through increased demand for construction, and maintenance activities, as well as tourism-related services. Cottages are crucial for the large numbers of tourism in Kuusamo. Kuusamo stands out for its ability to attract domestic and international tourists, evidenced by its disproportionately high number of overnight stays relative to its population. This would not be possible without the high number of cottages.
This study identifies challenges in Kuusamo such as an aging population, a declining working-age demographic, and geographic isolation, which necessitate proactive policy measures to ensure sustainable development. This research highlights the intricate connections between regional socio-economic dynamics and the phenomenon of cottage vacationing. It would be worth further research to dive deeper to find ways to sustain and to even further utilize the high number of cottages for the socio-economic benefits for the region.
An exploratory research design was employed, utilizing freely available data from Statistics Finland, analyzed using Python’s advanced data processing libraries. The study conducts comparative analyses between Kuusamo and municipalities of similar population sizes, municipalities with similar number of cottages, and tourism volumes to contextualize findings.
The findings reveal that Kuusamo’s high number of cottages serves as a critical driver of regional economic vitality. The presence of over 7 500 free-time residences boosts the local economy through increased demand for construction, and maintenance activities, as well as tourism-related services. Cottages are crucial for the large numbers of tourism in Kuusamo. Kuusamo stands out for its ability to attract domestic and international tourists, evidenced by its disproportionately high number of overnight stays relative to its population. This would not be possible without the high number of cottages.
This study identifies challenges in Kuusamo such as an aging population, a declining working-age demographic, and geographic isolation, which necessitate proactive policy measures to ensure sustainable development. This research highlights the intricate connections between regional socio-economic dynamics and the phenomenon of cottage vacationing. It would be worth further research to dive deeper to find ways to sustain and to even further utilize the high number of cottages for the socio-economic benefits for the region.