Finnish regions target business travellers
27/01/2010 - micebtn
Finland's metropolitan regions Helsinki, Espoo and Vantaa have drafted a Tourism Action Plan valid through 2012 and are using EUR350,000 from the European Regional Development Fund and Uusimaa Regional Council to support their project.
The first practical example of their closer regional co-operation was the opening of the Helsinki Region Tourist Information at Helsinki-Vantaa International Airport in August 2009.
Their aim is to attract more tourists, particularly in the business traveller sector, which has fallen significantly as a result of the global financial crisis (GFC).
A new international concept also has been created and Helsinki Region will test it at both Shanghai Expo 2010 and the international "Look at Finland" sales event in Vantaa.
Common sales channels also will be sought.
According to the recently-published Helsinki Region Tourism sector report, 51 per cent of the turnover of the entire Finnish travel industry is generated within Helsinki Region. Travel industry companies have almost 6000 offices or outlets in the Helsinki Region and employ 33,000 people. The combined net sales of these companies increased to almost EUR7 billion in 2007.
The report, which was compiled by Culminatum Innovation and Haaga-Perho, reveals that tourism in Helsinki Region increased significantly from 2005 to 2008.
However, the ongoing economic recession has resulted in a drop in business travel since summer 2008, and the number of overnight stays (bed nights) at accommodation outlets in Helsinki Region is forecast to have fallen by around six per cent in 2009 compared with 2008.
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