The Finnish authorities have revealed that Finland has steadily climbed from the 18th spot to the 15th in the Anholt-Ipsos Nation Brands Index, thus strengthening its image as an alluring tourist and residential destination.
Finland’s ranking for 2023, which is a place higher than the previous year, shows the country’s commitment to becoming one of the top EU destinations for travellers, gaining recognition across six important categories, including culture, tourism, people, exports, administration, immigration, and investments, SchengenVisaInfo.com reports.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Finland, similar to the previous years, the country is especially valued for its commitment to equality and environmental protection.
Finland has also secured a spot among the top ten nations for fair treatment of citizens, peace and security, administration competence and honesty, quality of life, and combating world poverty.
Emphasisng the significance of a good image, Mikko Koivumaa, Chairman of the Finland Promotion Board and Director of Communications at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said that it is important that Finland is known for the right things and gains more popularity.
Finland’s landscape does consistently well for its size. It is important that Finland is known for the right things. In these times, a strong country image not only creates opportunities for us but also gives us security.
The Ministry further reveals that Finland’s main strength has historically been its good governance, often ranking as high as sixth among a total of 60 nations.
However, the measurement of this year has brought a shift, with the country dropping by two places in the overall ranking in governance compared to the previous year.
Regarding Finland’s culture-related image, the authorities said that this remains the country’s biggest weakness.
The nation ranks 26th in cultural perceptions, with historical buildings and Finnish cultural heritage securing the 36th and 29th spots, respectively.
Nonetheless, the country has witnessed significant developments in its image in relation to contemporary and urban culture, as well as sports.
Data from the survey further show that Sweden and Germany are most fond of Finland, offering the most positive views.
On the other hand, Saudi Arabia and South Africa present a different image, rating Finland lower than other nations.
The Anholt-Ipsos Nation Brands Index, a prestigious country brand survey, interviews over 60,000 people across 20 countries. The 2023 research was conducted from July 27 to August 3, 2023. The Nordic countries in the study closely trail each other, with Sweden leading the group at the tenth spot.