image
1

finland

Finland’s virtual tourism boom

Finland’s virtual tourism boom

The country’s tourism destinations have become an extremely appealing virtual alternative for foreigners

The coronavirus pandemic has completely changed the way we perceive tourism and visiting opportunities. In just a few days, right after countries began declaring states of emergency and locking down societies, museums and libraries were ready to go fully digital and virtual. That practice has been carried forward and into the outdoors in Finland, where foreign tourists who otherwise might never have visited the Nordic country, are getting in line to explore its sites from the comfort of their homes.

Virtual Finland

Destinations across the country have already greeted their first groups of digital tourists. Groups of over 20 people coming from Japan purchased tickets to explore Finland’s east and the regions of Saimaa and Savonlinna.

And while they actually never left their homes on the other side of the world, they were completely immersed in their virtual surroundings with fascinating live streams and video links – completed with a virtual plane and train rides to their destinations.

The new tourism alternative through virtual visits boasts several advantages compared to regular trips. On the one hand, given the current situation, travelling to the other side of the world might not be the best idea when keeping in mind your health safety. Furthermore, it is far cheaper to schedule such a virtual tour with ticket prices costing a fraction of what a regular trip would otherwise demand.

Finally, there’s the environmental aspect. With tourists choosing the virtual alternative to tourism, they are essential sparing the environment the burden of travel which the trip would have incurred.

Such innovative practices and ways of making the best out of a bad situation might hold the key to the future, should travel to and from countries outside the EU remain more heavily restricted. They could also prove a real boon to the country’s economy as a means to salvage at least partially a badly wounded and damaged tourism sector.

Newsletter

Back

Growing City

All

Smart City

All

Green City

All

Social City

All

New European Bauhaus

All

Interviews

All

ECP 2021 Winner TheMayorEU

Latest