The choice of Helsinki as the Finnish Travel Destination of the Year is not a coincidence but the result of long-term, determined work by tourism professionals. The City of Helsinki wants to facilitate sustainable growth and renewal of tourism and develop the city into the world’s smartest and most sustainable destination.
Helsinki aspires to be a vibrant and internationally attractive city for tourism and events
The City of Helsinki’s tourism work is based on love for the city. The city aims to facilitate the growth of the tourism business to increase the city’s attractiveness. The strength of Helsinki’s aspiration to be a vibrant and internationally attractive city for tourism and events lies in versatility: Helsinki has something for everyone to have a great holiday in the city. Helsinki develops urban programmes incorporated with opportunities provided by local nature, increasing the city’s attractiveness among international travellers and creating significant added value for organisers of tourism activities.
“Companies, attractions and individual employees in the field are the ones that make Helsinki an attractive, interesting and memorable destination. The honour of this award belongs to all of you,” remarked Nina Vesterinen, Tourism Director of Helsinki, in her thank you speech.
The Finnish Travel Gala is an annual event organised by the Association of Finnish Travel Industry’s (SMAL) service company Smalser in cooperation with major tourism companies. The Gala gathers travel industry professionals and their guests to celebrate the most valuable industry wins and winners of the year. The aim is to highlight the importance of the tourism industry in Finnish society as an employer and economic enhancer, a producer of experiences and a facilitator of the daily life of those who travel for work.
The Finnish Travel Gala awarded winners in a total of nine different categories. Other winners included the Serlachius Museums’ Art Sauna, named the Tourism Innovation of the Year, and Viking Line Abp, named both the Sustainable Business of the Year and the Transport Company of the Year.