South Karelia’s economy has shrunk and unemployment has risen after Helsinki shut all crossings with its eastern neighbor
Finland’s South Karelia has been losing an estimated €1 million ($1.2 million) in tourism income every day since the Nordic country closed its border with Russia, Bloomberg reported on Saturday.
Finland shut all crossings along its 1,430km land border with Russia in late 2023, accusing Moscow of orchestrating an influx of migrants from Africa and the Middle East. Russia dismissed the allegation as “completely baseless.”
For decades, South Karelia, which lies closer to St. Petersburg than to Helsinki, had enjoyed lucrative ties with Russia – from cross-border shopping and tourism to lumber imports and local jobs in the forest industry. The loss of Russian visitors has reportedly left hotels, shops, and restaurants deserted, dealing a heavy blow to the local economy.
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