Helsinki Airport breaks another record

THE 20 millionth passenger of the year has visited Helsinki Airport.This historical milestone is the climax of the unprecedented growth in the past few years. The current development programme budgeted at €1 billion helps the airport to prepare for serving up to 30 million passengers a year.

Up to 21 million passengers are expected to visit #Helsinki Airport by the end of the year. The corresponding figure last year was 18.9 million passengers.  Joni Sundelin, Director of Helsinki Airport says that responsibility is a key factor in the growth of Helsinki Airport.

“We do our best to ensure that the volume air traffic can grow responsibly.Helsinki Airport is already a carbon neutral airport.We use renewable energy and fuels and compensate for other emissions.”


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Top Christmas Destination

HAVING been named the world’s number one Christmas city, #Helsinki is more than ready for another festive holiday season. The unique appeal of the Finnish capital is obvious also during the Christmas season, the warm atmosphere, fun activities, stunning nature and other Christmas elements are described in detail on the MyHelsinki.fi website. 

Helsinki has been highlighted as a top destination this Christmas by numerous international media outlets, The Guardian listed Helsinki has one of Europe’s best Christmas getaway destinations. Christmas in Helsinki is a mix of new and old traditions. A Christmas atmosphere is guaranteed all the way from late November through to Epiphany at the start of the New Year. The holiday season is rounded off by the popular Lux Helsinki light festival, which presents brilliant light art throughout the city centre from 5 to 9 January 2019.

The most anticipated architectural grand opening of the year takes place around Finnish Independence Day at the start of December, when the internationally acclaimed Helsinki Central Library Oodi opens to the public. The grand opening programme includes dance, music and theatre performances over two days on 5 and 6 December.

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Helsinki and Lyon Awarded Titles of 2019 European Capitals of Smart Tourism

HELSINKI and Lyon the winners of the first edition of the European Capital of Smart Tourism competition were awarded their titles yesterday, November 7 at a ceremony in Brussels, on the occasion of the European Tourism Day.Cities of more than 100.000 inhabitants were eligible in the first edition of this competition, 38 cities from 19 EU Member States applied.In addition, four cities received 2019 European Smart Tourism Awards for their outstanding achievements in the four categories of the competition: Málaga (Accessibility), Ljubljana (Sustainability), Copenhagen (Digitalisation) and Linz (Cultural Heritage & Creativity).

The European Capital of Smart Tourism is a new EU initiative, based on a proposal from the European Parliament, which secured its funding for 2018 - 2019 through a Preparatory Action. The initiative seeks to strengthen tourism-generated innovative development in EU cities and their surroundings, increase their attractiveness as well as strengthen economic growth and job creation.

To celebrate their success, Helsinki and Lyon have planned an exciting schedule of activities for 2019. For example, Helsinki will be launching a smart city guidance pilot scheme, making use of collaborative work with businesses and digital tools to create a smarter way to guide people in the city. Lyon's representatives will be travelling the globe for shows, press meetings and special events to inform new audiences about the city's smart opportunities.

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Autumn equinoxes

MARCH has witnessed some of the best Northern Lights activity in recent years and, according to experts at The Aurora Zone, this is not coincidental. Scientific research strongly points to increased geomagnetic activity in the weeks around the spring and autumn equinoxes. On that basis, The Aurora Zone believes that the coming autumn could witness equally spectacular displays.

Increased Auroral activity is not the only reason to take a Northern Lights trip in autumn. Less cloud cover makes sightings easier, the burnished seasonal colours provide a stunning backdrop, temperate weather results in more comfortable Aurora hunting conditions and lakes and rivers, which have not yet frozen, often reflect the Aurora in their glassy surfaces for double the effect.

An example of such a trip is Wilderness Auroras during the Finnish Autumn, which features Menesjärvi in Finnish Lapland as its magical setting. Daytime activities provide ample opportunities to experience Finnish ‘ruska’, the time of year when the leaves turn to rust. Included are a visit to a reindeer farm, a guided nature walk and a trip to meet excitable huskies at a neighbouring farm.

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Best connected airport

HELSINKI Airport has been voted the Best Airport in Northern Europe by passengers in the SKYTRAX World Airport Awards. The results were announced at Passenger Terminal EXPO in Stockholm, Sweden on 21 March 2018.

#Helsinki Airport is the best connected airport in Northern Europe with 145 non-stop destinations all around the world by over 50 airlines. It is an important air traffic hub between Europe and Asia. In 2017, Helsinki Airport served 18.9 million passengers, which was 9.9% more than the year before. In 2018, the airport expects to reach the 20 million passengers milestone.

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Up in the air . . .

SCOTLAND'S only route to Finland will now operate the whole year round following an extension to the Edinburgh Helsinki service.

Finnair’s direct flight between the two capitals will extend to year round from 25th March with up to nine weekly flights in the summer season and up to three in winter.

It follows the announcement of two new routes from Edinburgh to Seville and Jersey in a positive start to 2018 for Scotland’s busiest airport.

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Helsinki sees growth in cruise visitors in 2017

INTERNATIONAL cruises to the Baltic Sea are growing in popularity. The summer cruise season in #Helsinki too was extremely busy, as international cruise ships brought a total of 478,000 cruise visitors to the Finnish capital. This represents growth of almost 17 percent compared to last year, when Helsinki attracted 409,000 cruise visitors. 

This year’s figure also beats the previous record of 436,500 cruise visitors, which was set in 2015. A total of 266 cruise ships visited Helsinki in 2017. Although this is fewer than the record set in 2013, the record number of cruise visitors in 2017 reflects the growing capacity of international cruise ships. Helsinki also anticipates a busy cruise season in 2018.

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Sweat it out in Finland

WHAT do a gondola, the Finnair SkyWheel and a fast food restaurant all have in common? In a country home to over three million saunas it is perhaps no surprise that Finland’s most famous export, the sauna, can be found in unexpected places.  In #Finland, the sauna is an integral part of daily life offering physical and spiritual cleansing, promising an array of health benefits. For many Finns, the sauna is a sanctuary – a place for mental and physical purification and renewal.

In Helsinki’s Hartwall Arena, home to the Jokerit ice hockey team, guests can stay warm at the ice rink with a private sauna. A selection of VIP Skyboxes include saunas fitted with windows so guests can keep their eye on the puck whether they are entertaining clients and colleagues or enjoying a night with family and friends.

Visitors can even enjoy a sauna as they soar above the beautiful Helsinki skyline in the Finnair SkyWheel SkySauna. Spot Helsinki’s most famous landmarks, look out over the open sea and the surrounding islands along the south coast of Finland from the private sauna in the heart of Helsinki which can accommodate up to 20 people.

Roasting sausages on an open fire is often a key part of the Finnish sauna experience, but one newly-opened sauna will give Finns a different dining experience. Guests visiting the Mannerheimintie Burger King branch in Helsinki can enjoy a Whopper while they relax in a 15-person sauna that comes complete with a TV, Burger King bath robes and towels.

Further North, the world’s first sauna gondola takes guests through the breathtaking Lapland landscape at Ylläs ski resort, 718 metres above sea level. On a 20-minute roundtrip journey, guests can enjoy the majestic scenery from the comfort of the four-person sauna gondola.


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Qatar Airways increases frequencies to Eastern Europe and the Nordics

QATAR Airways has doubled its frequencies to a number of destinations in Eastern Europe and the Nordics, following a significant increase in passenger demand to the popular destinations of Prague, Warsaw and Helsinki.

Commencing mid-December, the award-winning airline will introduce an extra daily flight on each of the routes to meet the growing inbound and outbound travel demand by adding an Airbus A320 service, offering an additional 132 daily seats in both directions.
  
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The Great Nordic Feast

THIS autumn, the vivid and soothing flavours of Nordic cuisine will take over London’s Southbank Centre as eight Nordic destinations come together to serve up the tastiest treats from the lands of the midnight sun, for all food lovers to enjoy.

Taking place from 20 – 22 October, The Great Nordic Feast aims to introduce the best tastes and culinary talents from Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Norway and Iceland as well as the more unknown Nordic countries of the Faroe Islands, Greenland and Åland to London foodies, through inspiring artisan breakfasts and dinners, hosted by a collaboration of renowned chefs. The autumn feasts will be infused with Nordic flora, talks and music and cooked using traditional Nordic techniques, inside Scandinavian style tipi tents on Southbank Centre’s Festival Terrace.

Gastronomic experts from across the Nordic regions and the UK will combine their talents to serve up a creative Nordic eating experience for food lovers.

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Helsinki Highs

IN March 2017, 287,000 bednights were recorded in #Helsinki, of which 140,000 nights were spent by domestic visitors and 147,000 nights by foreigners. 

Domestic bednights increased 18 percent and foreign bednights increased 20 percent. In total, bednights increased 19 percent from last year's March. 

Most foreign bednights in Helsinki were recorded for Japanese (14,100 nights). 

The FIS Nordic Ski Championships in Lahti in February and March and the World Figure Skating Championships in Helsinki increased the number of nights spent in Helsinki in March.

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Finland's 100th year of independence

UK visitors looking to explore #Finland, in this, its 100th year of independence, are spoilt for choice when it comes to accommodation. From the modern Nordic-inspired hotels of Helsinki to the remote waterside cabins of Lakeland, there’s something for every holidaymaker.

Visitfinland.com have put together some great out of the ordinary stays for adventurous travellers.

Tentsiles, Nuuksio National Park, Espoo

Hang out in the trees at Nuuksio National Park’s new Eco Camp, the most ecologically friendly site in the world. Stay in a suspended Connect Tree Tentsile or Stingray Tree Tentsile for an unforgettable night surrounded by Finnish nature. Make the most of your experience by swimming in Nuuksio Long Lake, visiting the private beach at the Eco Camp, hiking through magnificent rocky hills nearby, or viewing nature exhibitions at the Finnish Nature Centre. The Tentsile Experience Eco Camp will be open from 01 June – 30 September, 2017. Prices start at €150 per night for a 2 person Connect Tentsile tree tent inclusive of sleeping bags, towels, breakfast at Restaurant Haltia, tickets to exhibitions at the Finnish Nature Centre, campfire firewood, bottled water and an eco toilet. On darker summer nights a Luminaid solar lamp will be provided. (www.honkalintu.fi / +358 50 330 8077)

Aurora Domes, Torassieppi
Situated on the banks of Lake Torassieppi and the first of their kind in Finland, these igloo-shaped tents are far from the bright lights of large resorts. Kick back in your dome and watch the blazing colours of the Aurora Borealis dance across the night sky. The insulated domes feature a wood burning stove, a cosy double bed, and clear panels offering a perfect view of the glistening lake and vast sky. Sauna and washroom facilities are located just 50 metres away from the lakeside camp. Due to the popularity of Aurora glamping, a further two domes are being opened this year. Harriniva Hotels & Safaris Aurora Domes start at €300 per night for two people including breakfast. (www.harriniva.fi / +358 400 155 100)

Mobile Cabins, Lake Inari

Gaze upon the glorious night sky from the comfort of a kitted out mobile cabin at Lake Inari. Weather permitting, your friendly host Esko will drive your cabin onto the frozen lake with a snowmobile before leaving you to enjoy spectacular views overnight. As well as large windows in the walls and roof, each cabin features a double bed, heating and toilet. The base camp offers many activities including fishing, snowmobiling, skiing and husky sledding. Prices for the mobile cabins start at €175 for cabins that stay onshore or €280 per night on the frozen lake for two people inclusive of breakfast and a pick up service in Inari Village. (www.lakeinari.com / +358 40 737 8181)

Arctic TreeHouse Hotel, Rovaniemi

The first Arctic TreeHouse Hotel enables guests to experience the Arctic Circle from nest-like suites perched among the trees. Offering spectacular views over the treetops, the suites are a marriage of Lappish heritage and modern Scandinavian design. Located only 10 minutes by car from the centre of Rovaniemi, the Arctic TreeHouse Hotel puts you on the doorstep of many of Lapland’s attractions such as SantaPark, the Ranua Zoo and the Provincial Museum Arktikum. Rooms at the Arctic TreeHouse Hotel start at €299 per night for two guests inclusive of full buffet breakfast and Wi-Fi. (www.santaparkarcticworld.com/arctic-treehouse-hotel / +358 505 176 909)

SnowVillage, Kittilä

Sleeping at SnowVillage is not only an exotic Arctic experience, but a surprisingly cosy one too. SnowVillage is a magical world constructed with around 20 million kilograms of snow and 350,000 kilograms of crystal clear ice. Tucked into a thermal sleeping bag, you can enjoy serene silence and marvel at beautifully illuminated snow and ice art in your suite. Make the most of SnowVillage by devouring a delicious dinner at the Ice Restaurant or ordering a drink ‘on the rocks’ at the Ice Bar. SnowVillage is constructed each October/November when the temperature falls to about -10°C. Prices for the Snow Hotel Suite, which accommodates up to four people, start at €420 per night. The price includes a guided tour of the SnowVillage with sleepover instructions, high quality sleeping bags and fleece lining bags, room wake up with hot berry juice and buffet breakfast inside the warm log restaurant and a diploma to commemorate your overnight stay. (www.snowvillage.fi / +358 040 416 7227)

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In the air . . .

Norwegian has announced two new routes from London Gatwick to Keflavik, Iceland and Rovaniemi, Finland.

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Finnair named best European airline

FOR the second year running, Finnair has been named Best European Airline at the annual Travel Trade Gazette awards.


Punctuality, service upgrades, and transfer reliability were factors in favour of Finnair being given the honour by readers, which include industry professionals.


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Picture Credit:Picture by Antti Havukainen via Wikimedia Commons

What’s your name … in Finnish?

HAVE the Finns created the planet’s most useless website? Visit Finland has created an online Finngenerator, which tells users what they would be called if they were a Finn.

In the application's first week, there were more than 140,000 visits to the Japanese version of the site, which suggests that there are at least 140,000 Japanese who ought to get out more. 

Users enter their name and gender into the online application, and the Finngenerator reveals the Finnish equivalent, along with a short explanation.  All of the generated names are related to nature in some way, since the generator is built to reflect the fact that nature is present everywhere in Finland, even in names. 

Following the site’s success in Japan, the application is growing in popularity across the globe, with a large number of hits in the United Kingdom and the United States following the launch of the English-language version. A Chinese version of the Finngenerator launches in April. 

Try the Finngenerator at www.visitfinland.com/campaigns/finngenerator/public/en

Go Holiday editor David Kernek comments: David comes out as Terho Viljanen, which means – says the website – grainy acorn. In Hewbrew, David means beloved, which – naturally – I much prefer!

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