Sustainable growth for Tourism: Southern Finland
Duration: 1.8.2021-31.8.2023
Project partners: Enter Espoo Oy, Forum Virium Helsinki Oy, City of Helsinki and Turku Science Park Ltd.
Funding: ERDF / REACT-EU. Funded as a part of the European Union’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic. The total budget is EUR 1 469 948, of which 80% is ERDF funding, i.e. EUR 1 175 958. Turku Science Park Ltd.’s share of ERDF funding is EUR 240 000.
Project in a nutshell: Tourism is one of the biggest economic sectors in Finland. According to the Ministry of Economic Affairs and employment of Finland, the industry generated approximately EUR 16 billion in tourism income and employed 140,000 people in 2018. However, tourism is now in crisis. In 2020, registered overnight stays fell by 60 percent in Uusimaa and 32 percent in Southwest Finland. Cities have been hit exceptionally hard by the crisis. Much of the workforce is now laid off or unemployed. Corporate cash reserves are empty, and support is needed in order to face the very intense competition that lies ahead.
The project comprises four subprojects that support each other. All project actions apply to the entire project region.
Helsinki will develop digital operating models for knowledge management and promote sustainable and carbonneutral tourism. ·Espoo will promote the inclusiveness of tourism and cyber security. Turku will focus on the development of new products on top of Finland’s inherent strengths, which include e.g. cleanliness, safety and silence. In addition, tourism safety will be developed. Forum Virium’s subproject is related to knowledge management and will test new forms of data use and introduce them among tourism companies. The project emphasises joint development and productisation with companies, as well as the export of new products to international markets using data and new digital sales channels.
Duties of Turku Science Park Ltd.: Turku will focus on the development of new products on top of Finland’s inherent strengths, which include e.g. cleanliness, safety and silence. In addition, tourism safety will be developed.
Contact person in Turku Science Park Ltd.: Laura Louko