Travel Gateway to Karelia
Funded by Euregio Karelia Neighbourhood Programme 2001-2006

Objective of the project

The general goal of the project was to support the vitality of tourism in Pielinen Karelia by increasing Russian traveller volumes and extending the Russian tourist seasons. A goal of the project was also to establish contacts related to tourism for the newly established PIKES Oy.

Main activities

• Development of a year-round tourist product family specifically intended for Russians in cooperation with Pielinen Karelia, St. Petersburg, and the tourism entrepreneurs of the Republic of Karelia, • Development of tourism services, marketing, and sales of the region to better meet the needs of Russian tourism, • Producing several brochures, arranging a media trip and several travel agent visits to the Koli and Bomba regions, • Arrangement of a tourism seminar, promotion events as well as a media trip and several travel agent visits to the Koli and Bomba regions. • Seeking new contacts.

Achievements

The tourism services, marketing, and sales of the region were developed to better meet the needs of Russian tourism. Products that conform to Russian consumer preferences were developed for both the summer and winter seasons. The project organised a seminar on the subject, which provided guidelines for the task. Summer and winter brochures, fair brochures, and a brochure presenting vacation homes and traveller investments for Russians were produced as new marketing material. The brochures were circulated in the St. Petersburg area. In addition, two large roadside signs were placed along the Vyborg - St. Petersburg road to promote marketing. The project also organised different types of promotion events and a tourism seminar in order to promote tourism. In addition, the project arranged a media trip and several travel agent visits to the Koli and Bomba regions. The number of Russian travellers in the area remained at a good level. The development in Upper Karelia was better than the national average. Cooperation relationships were established in the project which could lead, for example, to tourism investments in Pielinen Karelia by Russians.