To ensure the enjoyment of Helsinki residents, the city collected development ideas from residents through an online survey during the spring of 2023 on how tourism and events in Helsinki should be developed. The open survey also sought responses from tourism entrepreneurs in the Helsinki region, guide associations and the Makers of Helsinki network. In the end, the city received a total of 108 ideas.
“Involving Helsinki residents in the development of tourism is particularly important. Before the pandemic, it was seen that in many European destinations, tourism was doing more harm than good in terms of excessive tourism or the degradation of nature. Helsinki wants to engage in an active dialogue with the city residents to avoid these pitfalls,” says Jukka Punamäki, Senior Advisor, Tourism, at the City of Helsinki.
Themes that emerged strongly from the survey responses include promoting maritime Helsinki, increasing the number of venues and arenas, facilitating the establishment of terraces and pop-up restaurants, enabling the rental of sports equipment and developing nature sites. Some of these themes are already strongly part of the city’s development plans and some will be promoted in the future.
Helsinki wants to consider the needs of both residents and visitors
“According to the City Strategy, Helsinki must be a good city not only for its residents but also for visitors. Residents and businesses have first-hand information on how we can improve Helsinki’s performance as a tourist destination and place to visit. This information will also be used to identify and further minimise the potential negative impacts of tourism on residents. In fact, we are committed to promoting the best ideas from the survey,” says Nina Vesterinen, Tourism Director at the City of Helsinki.
A similar survey was now conducted for the second time. The responses received to the first survey, carried out in 2018, mentioned the development of bus traffic and signage and the addition of public toilets and, in particular. Since then, the situation on all these issues has been advanced in several different ways: a development plan for tourism bus traffic has been published, toilets have been added and signage has been improved.
Consulting Helsinki residents is important for tourism development work
This spring, the city also carried out a study of the views of Helsinki residents on tourism and events in cooperation with the Helsinki Tourism Foundation. According to the survey, Helsinki residents’ attitudes towards tourism and events are at an excellent level and they view tourism as having a positive impact on the city’s economy and attractiveness. However, the proportion of people with a positive attitude towards tourism decreased slightly from the previous survey. On the other hand, the operating environment has also changed due to the pandemic, more discussion on climate change and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Helsinki residents got an opportunity to discuss the development of tourism and events at an event held at the City Hall on 30 March 2023. The discussions highlighted, in particular, the fact that Helsinki offers many channels that locals can use for low-threshold influencing and decision-making. You can learn more about them at city's get involved -sites and join us in developing the city and its areas and services.