Visit Finland at World Travel Market
Stand Number EM140d . 2012 has been a bumper year for Helsinki and beyond with the capital basking in its World Design Capital status. The year of events, innovation and creation has kick started a new enthusiasm for development that continues into 2013 an
Everyone knows the Finns are obsessive about saunas and Culture Sauna is a new urban, contemporary Finnish public sauna right on the Helsinki waterfront in Hakaniemenranta. Created by designer Nene Tsuboi and architect Tuomas Toivonen, who were both inspired by Japanese bathing culture. With stunning views of the waterfront, an eco minded design and low energy consumption; it’s expected to become a new hub for the city. Currently the opening is scheduled for November 2012
Helsinki is one of the 2013 Tall Ships Race host cities. On the 17th July one hundred imposing sailing vessels will glide into the city as part of the race that takes place every four years. The competition will be held in July and August and will begin on the 4th July with the first leg from Denmark’s Aarhus to Helsinki, from where it will continue to Riga in Latvia and end in Szczecin, Poland. The ships will remain in Helsinki for four days, from the 17th to 20th July 2013. Visitors can go and see the ships while they are docked. The event also includes other programmes at the venue in Helsinki’s Hietalahti area.
The Finnish Nature Centre Haltia is a new type of visitor centre in the middle of verdant Nuuksio national park area about a half an hour drive away from Helsinki. In Haltia, visitors are surrounded by the spectacular views of Nuuksio and Lake Pitkäjärvi as well as excellent hiking and kayaking possibilities. The exhibitions at the Nature Centre offer an authentic experience of nature from all of Finland and the centre will act as the starting point for hikes of various levels and lengths. Haltia opens in May 2013.
Finland based Holiday Club will build Angry Birds Activity Parks in connection with three of its spa hotels. Holiday Club Resorts Oy is one of Europe’s largest vacation ownership enterprises. Founded in 1986 the company owns 1,500 holiday homes in 32 destinations: 24 in Finland.
The first year-round indoor activity park will be completed in Kuusamon Tropiikki and will launch in time for Christmas 2012. In February 2013 the Angry Birds will land in Saariselkä, at the most northern tip of Lapland and next autumn in Saimaa, in Lappeenranta, Finland’s lake district. The largest Angry Birds Activity Park investment in Finland is a display of the creative cooperation between Rovio, who develop the internationally popular game, Holiday Club and Lappset, one of the leading international makers of playground equipment.