Messukeskus in Helsinki will host the Matka Nordic Travel Fair, the largest travel fair in Northern Europe, from 17 to 21 January 2018. Finnish travel destinations, including, most prominently, Lapland, and numerous tour operators will promote best of Finland.
"Our stand will present Finland's largest national parks and wilderness areas, and the open-air activities available throughout the year. For foreign tourists, the Inari-Saariselkä region presents itself, first and foremost, as an excellent destination for seeing the Northern Lights, a hub of three Sami cultures, and a place near Norway offering Arctic activities", says Tarja Manninen, marketing director at the company Inari-Saariselkä Tourism.
Besides Lapland, travel offerings of seaside destinations will be presented in the Suomen Saaristo ('Finnish Archipelago') area, which will feature the archipelago municipalities of western Finland, from Pori to Raasepori.
"Finnish domestic tourists are interested in destinations in the archipelago, such as the Archipelago Trail, the Örö fortress island and the island of Seili. There are many festivals and events held in the region, including Pori Jazz, Baltic Jazz, Ruisrock, Naantali Music Festival, Raumanmeren Juhannus, and Salo Jazz, as well as the sports events the Paavo Nurmi Festival and Challenge Turku", lists Satu Hirvenoja, sales and marketing manager at Visit Turku.
"To our foreign tourists, we recommend exploring the four local national parks, which tie the archipelago area together. The fair will present the Teijo, Kurjenrahka, Archipelago and Bothnian Sea national parks. There is also an archipelago shop offering fair souvenirs to buy", says Satu Hirvenoja.
Those looking for lakeside destinations can find interesting alternatives at the GoSaimaa and the Mikkeli region's Lakeland stands. Eastern Finland, known for its wilderness areas and bear safaris, will present local holidaying opportunities and wild animal safaris. The exhibitors include Ilomantsi Tourism association, Visit Kajaani and Wild Taiga.
"At Mikkeli's Lakeland stand, visitors can explore gems of nature tourism, such as the Puumala archipelago route, favoured by cyclists and motorcyclists, or the Juva Squirrel canoeing route, suitable for the entire family. A unique tourism experience for both domestic and international visitors is a cruise from Anttolanhovi to see the Astuvansalmi rock paintings. The stand also presents the recently launched Saimaa Gastronomy network, which includes six food tourism destinations in the Lake Saimaa region", says Maisa Häkkinen, director of tourism at Miksei Mikkeli.
