2024 was Oulu’s busiest year of meetings and conferences

The year 2024 was record-breakingly busy regarding meetings and conference events based on number of attendees. The number of attendees of events that meet the congress criteria was 5 540 persons in 2024. A total of 31 congresses were held. With these numbers, the city of Oulu ranks sixth among Finland’s congress cities. 

Based on the latest delegate study by Finland Convention Bureau, each congress visitor leaves approximately 1 400 € to the city. For Oulu, this means an income effect of approximately 7.5 million €. On top of the economic effect, each congress has contributed to international image communications. The congress application processes alone create international visibility for Oulu. Congresses are a primary tool for promoting the city’s attraction and other goals can be fulfilled through that – seeking international professionals and free-time tourists as well as improving employment.  

International conferences held in Oulu are compiled together with the University of Oulu and Oulu Convention Bureau. The largest international conferences held in Oulu in 2024 were: 

• JCI European Conference 2024, about 1 500 attendees 

• Scandinavian Society of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine SSAI2024, with the theme of the future from the perspective of medical science and technology, about 600 attendees (200 attended remotely) 

• 4th World Congress of Environmental History WHEC, about 970 attendees. 

National meetings and events are also very significant, but their statistics are collected differently to international events. 

An event is considered an international event or congress if it has at least ten attendees, there are attendees from at least two other countries than Finland, 20 % of attendees are from another country than Finland, and the event lasts at least for one day (minimum of four hours). The event must be organized by an international organization or its Finnish member organization, civic organization, university, university faculty or research group, university of applied sciences, research institute, ministry or other comparable non-profit organization.  

Source: Finland Convention Bureau Tourism publications (in Finnish)