HELSINKI

2019 European Capital of Smart Tourism

Boasting 460 years of history, Helsinki is also a modern city with a burgeoning smart tourism industry. In 2017, visitors to Finland’s capital reached record numbers, with in excess of 4.5 million people taking advantage of a destination that mixes high-tech and sustainable design with stunning arts and culture all in one compact and vibrant city.

Smart ways to get around the city

The city’s smart public transport system enjoyed a rise in user satisfaction over the last two years and Helsinki isn’t standing still. An ‘Uber boat’ system is under consideration and driverless buses are being trialled on open streets.

Helsinki has been ranked second at the Accessible City Awards in 2015. And, if you do need any extra help, multilingual ‘Helsinki Helpers’ are stationed at main attractions to offer assistance.

Visitors will see first-hand some of the 143 measures in place to help Helsinki become carbon neutral by 2035. The Helsinki Road Map prevents overcrowding and supports local business as it guides tourists around the city, while 75% of hotel rooms are certified environmentally friendly. Helsinki is also increasing the share of cycling, walking, and electric cars and trains.

An innovative approach to cultural tourism

Powered by its open approach to public data – available free for all since 2009 – Helsinki has become a hotbed of software innovation. One of the major successes is the MyHelsinki.fi website, an ad-free service platform featuring recommendations from the people who know the city best – the locals.

If you’ve come to Helsinki for its famous spa life, you won’t be disappointed. Saunas form an important part of Finnish culture and national identity, and there are plenty to choose from. Helsinki features a wide array of environmental friendly saunas that are made from sustainable wood and powered by water, solar heating and wind.

Helsinki’s Preliminary Programme of Activities as 2019 European Capital of Smart Tourism

For more details, visit myhelsinki.fi

HELSINKI

2019 European Capital of Smart Tourism

Boasting 460 years of history, Helsinki is also a modern city with a burgeoning smart tourism industry. In 2017, visitors to Finland’s capital reached record numbers, with in excess of 4.5 million people taking advantage of a destination that mixes high-tech and sustainable design with stunning arts and culture all in one compact and vibrant city.

Smart ways to get around the city

The city’s smart public transport system enjoyed a rise in user satisfaction over the last two years and Helsinki isn’t standing still. An ‘Uber boat’ system is under consideration and driverless buses are being trialled on open streets.

Helsinki has been ranked second at the Accessible City Awards in 2015. And, if you do need any extra help, multilingual ‘Helsinki Helpers’ are stationed at main attractions to offer assistance.

Visitors will see first-hand some of the 143 measures in place to help Helsinki become carbon neutral by 2035. The Helsinki Road Map prevents overcrowding and supports local business as it guides tourists around the city, while 75% of hotel rooms are certified environmentally friendly. Helsinki is also increasing the share of cycling, walking, and electric cars and trains.

An innovative approach to cultural tourism

Powered by its open approach to public data – available free for all since 2009 – Helsinki has become a hotbed of software innovation. One of the major successes is the MyHelsinki.fi website, an ad-free service platform featuring recommendations from the people who know the city best – the locals.

If you’ve come to Helsinki for its famous spa life, you won’t be disappointed. Saunas form an important part of Finnish culture and national identity, and there are plenty to choose from. Helsinki features a wide array of environmental friendly saunas that are made from sustainable wood and powered by water, solar heating and wind.

Helsinki’s Preliminary Programme of Activities as 2019 European Capital of Smart Tourism

For more details, visit myhelsinki.fi

City News

Media Visit to Helsinki

17.09.2019 – a group of European journalists were in Helsinki last weekend (13-15 September) to experience the smart tourism initiatives that helped the Finnish capital to become the 2019 European Capital of Smart Tourism.

The journalists met with Jenny Tiapale, Helsinki Marketing’s Head of Partnerships and Networks to discuss how the city is paving the way as an innovative destination.

The group ate at zero-waste restaurants, tried out the city’s interconnected transport system, took a boat trip to the Suomenlinna fortress – a UNESCO world heritage site and even had a go at 3D printing in the brand new Oodi Library.

See some pictures from the visit here.

Media Visit to Helsinki

17.09.2019 – a group of European journalists were in Helsinki last weekend (13-15 September) to experience the smart tourism initiatives that helped the Finnish capital to become the 2019 European Capital of Smart Tourism.

The journalists met with Jenny Tiapale, Helsinki Marketing’s Head of Partnerships and Networks to discuss how the city is paving the way as an innovative destination.

The group ate at zero-waste restaurants, tried out the city’s interconnected transport system, took a boat trip to the Suomenlinna fortress – a UNESCO world heritage site and even had a go at 3D printing in the brand new Oodi Library.

See some pictures from the visit here.

Think Sustainably Digital Service

14.08.2019 – What if making sustainable choices was as easy as using your favourite app? This week, Helsinki has released a service that enables users – locals and visitors alike – to find the city’s most sustainable restaurants, experiences, shops and accommodation. The app also features a route planner which displays CO2 emissions per trip, to encourage users to switch to emission-free transport options.

This new digital service is based on sustainability criteria that have been tailor-made for Helsinki and comes as a result of a public survey, in which Helsinki residents expressed a desire to be supported in making more sustainable choices.

Find out more about Helsinki’s “Think Sustainably initiative” here.

Think Sustainably Digital Service

14.08.2019 – What if making sustainable choices was as easy as using your favourite app? This week, Helsinki has released a service that enables users – locals and visitors alike – to find the city’s most sustainable restaurants, experiences, shops and accommodation. The app also features a route planner which displays CO2 emissions per trip, to encourage users to switch to emission-free transport options.

This new digital service is based on sustainability criteria that have been tailor-made for Helsinki and comes as a result of a public survey, in which Helsinki residents expressed a desire to be supported in making more sustainable choices.

Find out more about Helsinki’s “Think Sustainably initiative” here.

Launch of Helsinki’s new Sustainable Tourism Study

01.2019 – In January 2019, Helsinki launched a study to assess how sustainable tourism is being implemented in the city. The study will be followed up by a new sustainable tourism programme, to be launched later in 2019.

Find out more about the study (in Finnish) here and see more about how Helsinki is thinking sustainably here.

Launch of Helsinki’s new Sustainable Tourism Study

01.2019 – In January 2019, Helsinki launched a study to assess how sustainable tourism is being implemented in the city. The study will be followed up by a new sustainable tourism programme, to be launched later in 2019.

Find out more about the study (in Finnish) here and see more about how Helsinki is thinking sustainably here.

MATKA travel fair

18-20.01.2019 – the MATKA Travel Fair is the largest travel fair in northern Europe. At the fair, Jukka Punamäki from Helsinki marketing, presented the Finnish capital’s success as the European Capital of Smart Tourism 2019. He outlined Helsinki’s achievements in all four categories of the competition, in addition to the benefits the city is receiving, as 2019 capital.

Find out more about the fair here.

MATKA travel fair

18-20.01.2019 – the MATKA Travel Fair is the largest travel fair in northern Europe. At the fair, Jukka Punamäki from Helsinki marketing, presented the Finnish capital’s success as the European Capital of Smart Tourism 2019. He outlined Helsinki’s achievements in all four categories of the competition, in addition to the benefits the city is receiving, as 2019 capital.

Find out more about the fair here.

Arrival of Helsinki’s Hashtag Sculpture

12.03.2019 – On 12 March, Helsinki, one of the two cities to hold the title of European Capital of Smart Tourism 2019, put up its hashtag sculpture in Rautatientori Square, right outside the city’s Central Train Station.

The sculpture was awarded by the EU to celebrate the city’s success and to stand as a landmark to the four categories of the initiative.

Arrival of Helsinki’s Hashtag Sculpture

12.03.2019 – On 12 March, Helsinki, one of the two cities to hold the title of European Capital of Smart Tourism 2019, put up its hashtag sculpture in Rautatientori Square, right outside the city’s Central Train Station.

The sculpture was awarded by the EU to celebrate the city’s success and to stand as a landmark to the four categories of the initiative.

Helsinki Tourism Seminar

04.2019 – In April, myHelsinki is holding a seminar for representatives of the tourism industry. City marketing employees, as well as local stakeholders, will take attendees through the many smart tourism initiatives in place in the Finnish capital, European Capital of Smart Tourism 2019.

For more details, see Helsinki’s “Roadmap for Tourism“.

Helsinki Tourism Seminar

04.2019 – In April, myHelsinki is holding a seminar for representatives of the tourism industry. City marketing employees, as well as local stakeholders, will take attendees through the many smart tourism initiatives in place in the Finnish capital, European Capital of Smart Tourism 2019.

For more details, see Helsinki’s “Roadmap for Tourism“.

Visit Finland annual meeting

11.06.2019 – The Visit Finland annual meeting is the most important gathering of tourism stakeholders in Finland. At the 2019 annual meeting, Helsinki’s achievement as European Smart Tourism Capital were presented to around 100 destinations and stakeholders in Finland, from all areas of the industry. Representatives of Helsinki highlighted the best practices for which the city was recognised.

Find out more about Visit Finland here.

Visit Finland annual meeting

11.06.2019 – The Visit Finland annual meeting is the most important gathering of tourism stakeholders in Finland. At the 2019 annual meeting, Helsinki’s achievement as European Smart Tourism Capital were presented to around 100 destinations and stakeholders in Finland, from all areas of the industry. Representatives of Helsinki highlighted the best practices for which the city was recognised.

Find out more about Visit Finland here.