Sustainable Travel Finland

Example description

Visit Finland, which is an official, national body for international tourism in the country, works to develop and market Finland’s travel image as well as help the Finnish travel companies to internationalize, develop, sell and market high-quality travel products. In order to support national travel companies in taking steps towards sustainable and green practices and support their marketing efforts, Visit Finland has developed a Sustainable Travel Finland programme. Through the programme, the travel companies as well as regions in Finland can obtain a Sustainable Travel Finland label or status.

The Sustainable Travel Finland programme and label provide an excellent opportunity for your local small businesses. With the help of the programme, you will be guided towards more sustainable practices step by step, whereas the label serves as a concrete tool for your marketing purposes. It is important to make your customers aware of your sustainable practices and choices, and offer them a possibility to make their own green choices by choosing your company. Even more, you can take advantage of synergies between other businesses around, and spread the green approach amongst your local communities. When at least half of your region’s companies have gained the Sustainable Travel Finland label, the region can gain a sustainable travel destination status certified by Visit Finland.

Kristinestad – sustainable coastal community

Kristinestad (also called Kristiinankaupunki) is an idyllic, small coastal town in the western part of Finland. Kristinestad can take pride in having gained a sustainable travel destination status certified by Visit Finland. There are seven criteria in total assigned to the programme’s tourism destination, involving that the region must commit to the national principles of sustainable tourism, support the growing competence in sustainable development for companies in the region, communicate the sustainable development activities in multiple channels, and prepare a development plan that can be updated.

Kristinestad’s sustainable success story is enabled by close cooperation between the local companies, and their joint interests and desire to develop the tourism sector in the region. Since adequate financial and human resources are also called for, half of the working time of the responsible person for sustainable travelling in the City of Kristinestad is dedicated to support the local companies in their efforts towards increased sustainability. Collaboration is the key: the active work in tourism development in the City of Kristinestad also strongly leans on close cooperation with the nearby coastal cities, Vaasa, Jakobstad (also called Pietarsaari) and Närpes (also called Närpiö).

Krepelin Apartments – green choice for overnight stay

Krepelin Apartments in Kristinestad offers accommodation all year round in an early 19th century sea merchant’s home yard. Before joining Visit Finland’s Sustainable Tourism programme, the hotel had strongly been on a sustainable path in its everyday operations already, and it had also been active in promoting sustainable practices and choices within the community. But it was with the help of the Sustainable Tourism programme, however, that Krepelin owners saw the opportunity to make their efforts visible, get an official certificate, and challenge all local tourism operators to take part. They wanted to make sure that tourists will not drive past the city – not now and not in the future.

Apart from concrete steps and support in boosting the hotel’s sustainability actions, Krepelin owners very much appreciate the broader shoulders that the Sustainable Travel Finland label and status provide in marketing their own company as well as the City of Kristinestad. They also want to emphasize the role of the City in supporting the companies and coordinating the joint efforts. Collaboration is the recipe for genuine success. The picturesque buildings and surroundings of Krepelin Apartments and Kristinestad warmly welcomes you for a sustainable, longer stay.

Videos

Sustainable travelling in Kristiinankaupunki: https://youtu.be/ChW_s5whu9M

Visit Finland. Sustainable Travel Finland: https://youtu.be/zCgCEbEiKzk

Links & sources

https://travel-trade.visitfinland.com/en/sustainability/