The main ports are Mariehamn (south), Berghamn (west) and Långnäs on the eastern shore of the Main Island.
The abolition of tax-free sales on ferry boats travelling between destinations within the European Union made Finland demand an exception for the Åland Islands on the European Union value-added tax rules. The exception allows for maintained tax-free sales on the ferries between Sweden and Finland (provided they stop at Mariehamn or Långnäs) and at the airport, but has also made Åland a different tax-zone, meaning that tariffs must be levied on goods brought to the islands. Two million people visit the Åland Islands every year – but most of them just for a few hours before the ferry returns again, or the passengers change from one ship to another.
The Finnish State also collects taxes, duties and fees in Åland. In return, the Finnish Government places a sum of money at the disposal of the Åland Parliament. The sum is 0.5% of total Government income, excluding Government loans. If the sum paid to the Finnish state exceeds 0.5%, then any amount above goes back to the Parliament of Åland as “diligence money”. In 2010 the amount of taxes paid by Åland Islanders comprised 0.7% of the total taxes paid in Finland.
According to Eurostat, as of 2006 Åland was the 20th-wealthiest of the EU’s 268 regions, and the wealthiest in Finland, with a GDP per inhabitant 47% above the EU mean.
Bank of Åland is headquartered on the island.
While the official currency is the Euro, most businesses in Åland unofficially accept the Swedish krona.
Transportation:
Nordic Regional Airlines flies to Mariehamn Airport, operating for Finnair. On the island of Kumlinge there is an air strip and a helicopter landing place that is not frequented by regular flights but only by chartered flights.
The islands have quiet roads which are much appreciated by cyclists. Several main roads have separate cycle lanes. There are Ålandstrafiken local bus services operating in conjunction with the inter-island ferries.
Road vehicles registered in Åland have number plates with blue lettering starting ÅL.
The red granite is used as a road surface so both gravel and tarmac roads tend to be red in Åland.
Åland Islands do not have railways.
The Silja Line, Viking Line and Tallink ferries operating between Helsinki, Turku or Tallinn and Stockholm call briefly at Åland, at either Mariehamn or Långnäs. As well as providing useful transport links, this also permits the sale of duty-free alcohol etc. on board the ships. This is due to Åland’s special constitutional status and exemption from normal European Union rules on Value Added Tax and other tariffs, negotiated by Finland as part of talks leading to membership of the EU in 1995. Vessels must call at an Åland port to qualify.
A network of ferries operated by Ålandstrafiken provide inter-island services (and links with Galtby and Osnäs ferry harbours in Finland).