The Nordic Bloggers' Experience (the NBE) brings 60 internationally acknowledged travel bloggers to Finland in January. The idea is to show the best that Finland has to offer and to spread the word about this wonderful destination around the world to millions of people. The Nordic Bloggers' Experience is organised by Messukeskus Helsinki in cooperation with Visit Helsinki and Visit Finland. In 2015 it is organised for the second time and it is the biggest travel blogger event ever organised in Finland.
40 blogs representing 13 different language areas were chosen from 300 applications. The increased travel from Asia to Finland has been noted when choosing the bloggers as this year the number of Asian bloggers is five times bigger than last year. This year Finnair partners with the MATKA Fair in choosing the Asian travel bloggers and providing their transport to Finland.
The NBE bloggers have over 2,5 million followers around the world. They also reach a considerable amount of people through different social media channels; the bloggers have over 500,000 followers on Facebook and Twitter and over 350,000 followers on Instagram.
Bloggers and digital influencers are the leading forerunners and decision makers of today, and that makes co-operation with them an integral part of our plans. Projects like the Nordic Bloggers' Experience will show Finland as a viable travel destination trough trusted eyes on global markets while also strengthening co-operation with local travel trade, states Eva Kiviranta, Coordinator, PR Network and Social Media at Visit Finland.
The Best of North
Nearly half of the bloggers have never been to Finland and for many of them a real winter is a totally new experience. In addition to Helsinki and the MATKA Fair, the bloggers get to see other destinations in Finland according to their interests. One group also visits Stockholm, the capital of Sweden. The trips focus on nature, culture or silence.
The nature themed trips are made to the municipality of Inari and Saariselkä ski resort. Also the cities of Rovaniemi, Mikkeli and Espoo provide the bloggers with unique experiences. In addition to seeing the wonders of nature, the bloggers get to try out different winter sports and meet Santa Claus and his reindeer.
The cultural trips take the bloggers to the cities of Hämeenlinna, Porvoo, Turku and Stockholm. Finnish composer Jean Sibelius, different museums and art workshops together with exquisite gastronomic experiences are on the agenda of these trips.
The trips focusing on silence introduce such destinations as Enontekiö and Ahvenanmaa. The bloggers get to see the Finnish archipelago and enjoy the unique nature and hospitality of Lapland.
Blogs as a business
In addition to the NBE bloggers, nearly 100 other travel bloggers from Finland and abroad are attending the MATKA Fair. A vast seminar programme has been compiled keeping in mind this special visitors group.
The issues addressed include how to make a living with travel blogs and what to consider when taking partners for travel blogs. Video blogs are also discussed as well as different means to increase the number of followers. Also the key note seminar for travel trade professionals addresses the role of social media in the travel business.
Travel bloggers value relationships with travel companies and other travel professionals. The MATKA Fair offers an excellent forum for the bloggers to build these relations on hundreds of exhibition stands. During the workshop day already one day prior to the fair (Wednesday 14 January) the bloggers get to meet different travel trade professionals from Finland and other countries.
"I want to make good contacts to come back to discover the beauty of Finland," mentions Víctor Gómez.
"I'm looking forward to experiencing Finland in the winter season, after having visited in the summer. As a nature and adventure blogger, I'm hoping to make meaningful connections with operators in the sector, knowing the love Nordic countries have for nature and the outdoors," states Nick Margherita Burns.
