Puumala’s summer economy slows as holiday residents leave

Puumala’s summer economy is slowing as thousands of holiday residents return to cities, Yle reports. The South Savo municipality has about 2,000 permanent residents and 3,900 holiday homes, causing its population to multiply during the summer.

The busiest season ended in early August when schools reopened and holiday residents left for cities in southern Finland. For businesses such as Tanja Raivio’s family fish company, the summer influx is essential.

Raivio spent the summer travelling to nearby municipalities six days a week to sell crayfish and zander fillets. She now makes the rounds three times a week.

South Savo has Finland’s highest number of holiday residents in relation to its permanent population. Tuula Pihkala, a project manager at the Mikkeli development company Miksei, said holiday residents create jobs and bring new money into the region.

According to the latest holiday-home barometer, holiday residents bring more than 200 million euros a year to the region. A holiday household in Puumala spends more than 9,000 euros annually on services in the surrounding area, while Finnish holidaymakers spend an average of 1,800 euros less.

Spending goes particularly towards construction, renovations and groceries. Puumala has 41 construction companies, 21 property and boat maintenance businesses, three food shops, six restaurants, rising to 11 during the summer, and three cafés, rising to 14.

At the Puumala K Market, the wide range of oat milk products shows that the summer season is not yet completely over. Shopkeeper Eveliina Hämäläinen said the store carries considerably more products in summer than in winter, when there is little demand for plant-based products or foods for special diets.

A six-week peak season begins at Midsummer, generating one-third of the shop’s annual sales. Hämäläinen said recent economic difficulties are also visible in holiday residents’ shopping baskets.

Puumala has gained nearly 1,000 new holiday homes this millennium, and people are spending longer periods at their holiday residences. Holiday residents stay in the municipality for an average of three months a year.

Some have moved to their holiday homes permanently. Puumala is the only municipality in South Savo to have recorded net migration gains for ten consecutive years.

At Raivio’s fish company, the year’s most important period is the autumn roe season. The five-week season will nearly triple the workforce, bringing the number of employees to almost ten as fishermen work on the lake and others process the catch.

Most of the roe is sold to southern Finland, including to holiday residents who know Puumala. Some of it is delivered to restaurants for blini weeks.

Local products are also taken home as souvenirs. Customers buy locally produced rainbow trout, while Puumala-themed socks, mugs and postcards are popular at the K Market. Only one pair of I love Puumala socks remained on the shop’s display.