Finland

Promising Literature Tourism Season in Kainuu.

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Cultural tourism will be one of the main themes for Wild Taiga tourism in the future, combining the culture and nature of the region. Supported by the designation of the city of Kuhmo as a city of literature of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network in 2019, Kuhmo’s application was initiated by the Juminkeko Foundation and was based on the idea of Kuhmo as the home of the Kalevala. The Finnish national epic has been translated into more than 60 languages, and the cultural heritage with its runosinging have been the cornerstones of culture and identity of the Finnish people and Finland. Juminkeko foundation has worked for the preservation of Kalevala traditions and culture for a long time. In 1985, Juminkeko’s predecessor, Kuhmo Kulttuurikornitsa center, was founded in Kuhmo to uphold Karelian traditions and to improve public awareness of this cultural heritage in Finland. Construction of the Kuhmo Juminkeko was finished in 1999 as part of the New Kalevala’s Commemoratory Year and the Kuhmo Kulttuurikornitsa Foundation became the Juminkeko Foundation at the beginning of 2000. Today, the center is the Finnish State’s permanent monument to the Kalevala.

From the Rough Waters of COVID Pandemic to a Promising Literature Tourism Season 2021.

Tourism as one of the main industries in Kainuu, has of course been suffering from the travel restrictions and uncertainty caused by COVID. Also, the flights to the regional capital Kajaani were on a complete hold for months. Luckily for Kainuu, the safer pandemic situation in the region and the convenient distance in the middle of Finland have temporarily helped us to replace lots of the foreign tourism that was totally stopped with domestic tourism. We have worked on the safety issues and special travel bubbles and are now proceeding on our vaccinations and keenly preparing our COVID exit plans, welcoming foreign tourists with open arms as soon as the borders are open. Our destinations are open and running, and also the flights to Kajaani have been started again in May.

Welcome to Kainuu, Arctic Lakeland, to experience both sides of Finland!

In the unique Northern region of Kainuu, you can enjoy clean air, lakes and rivers teeming with fish and rugged landscapes of untouched hills and wilderness. If you would like to see more of the Finnish landscape or take part in a range of diverse sports and activities visit Arctic Lakelands Website to find out more.

Cultural Events in Kuhmo and Kainuu.

The expectations for summer 2021 are high in Kuhmo and plans for the annual cultural events are proceeding again. If you haven’t heard about Kuhmo Chamber Music Festival or Sommelo Ethno Music Festival yet, check the events out now, Kainuu could well be the place for you to satisfy your appetite for culture and adventure!.

Literature Tourism – In The Spirit of Kalevala.

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Explore True Wild North – Wild Taiga.

In Kainuu, Finland, the trees reach up to the sky and the dappled light filters down through their branches. The murmuring of forest streams and the soothing hum of the verdant forest greet you and lead you to the mystical beauty of this northern wilderness. It is here you find the inspiration for the Finnish national epic, The Kalevala.

During summer 2021, several new literature tourism products will be launched in Kainuu, as the Spot-lit Product Incubation Programme is completed.  Explore true wild north – Wild Taiga has been developed by the association of tourism enterprises and aimed at attracting international tourists. Wild Taiga is located on Finland’s eastern border, in and around Kuhmo and Suomussalmi municipalities in Kainuu. The region may be described as a fascinating combination of untouched wilderness, nature experiences and an active cultural life. Read more about the Kainuu tourism area and their products on the Wild Taiga comprehensive English website, or book your holiday online.

Explore true wild north – Wild Taiga. 

The Songlands of the Kalevala.

With the support of Spot-lit project, Wild Taiga staff and member companies have planned a special product package called “The Songlands of the Kalevala”.  The Kalevala is the Finnish national epic compiled from old Finnish ballads, lyrical songs, and oral poetry, all part of Finnish tradition. The Kalevala was compiled by Elias Lönnrot, at the time acting as the district doctor in Kajaani, Kainuu, who published the folk material in two editions. In The Songlands of the Kalevala, you tread the paths once taken by Elias Lönnrot, and witness first hand where the Karelian artists of the Kalevala found their inspiration. Check out ‘The Songlands of the Kalevala’ and other Kalevala products on this dedicated section on Wild Taiga website.

Find Out More about the Finnish Businesses participating in the The Spot-lit Literary Product Innovation Progamme HERE.

 

 

 

 

Literary Tourism Baseline Audit NPA Region 2019-2020.

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Lapland University of Applied Sciences is a project partner engaged in the Spot-lit Project and is the responsible partner for the T4 work package named “Development of Transformative Guide for SMEs in Literary Tourism” .  The activities of the work package include the establishment of a baseline audit of Northern Periphery and Arctic (NPA) literary tourism activity at the project commencement, data collection over determined periods during the project implementation, and data analysis.

In summer of 2019, a baseline study was conducted, in which an agreed set of economic indicators of literary tourism in the NPA regions involved were evaluated. The economic indicators are as follows:

  • SME activity within the literary tourism
  • Number of jobs supported by the literary tourism sector;
  • Number of SME products and service connected to the literary tourism
    sector;
  • Reach of those products and services into national and international
    markets;
  • The extent of SME clusters in the literary tourism sector;
  • The visibility of products and services connected to the literary tourism
    sector;
  • Public awareness and engagement with the literary tourism sector as a
    means of identifying destinations of choice for tourism activity

The same set of economic indicators are evaluated in this report, based on data collected in all four participating regions late 2019, first quarter of 2020 and third quarter 2020.

View Report: Literary Tourism Baseline Audit NPA Region 2019-2020

Finnish Poet Isa Asp.

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Isa Asp was the first female poet in Finland. She died aged nineteen of tuberculosis leaving about 100 poems. During the summer season, the Kukkula House administered by Isa Asp Society is open for the public as and when possible, for an exhibition of Isa’s life and the history of Kukkula house.

Kalevala’s day celebration in City of Literature,Kuhmo

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Kalevala’s day celebration in Kuhmo. Now you can listen to poetry singing, folk and music and enjoy the performance of a Kuhmolan dance artist.
View at Juminkeko’s YouTube channel HERE

Spotlight on Literary Tourism Product Innovation Programme in Northern Finland

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In spring of 2020, Spot-lit project partners in Kainuu, Finland selected seven product development ideas related to literary tourism for development and funding. Today, we are showcasing the seven selected Finnish organisations participating in the Literary Product Innovation Programme (LT-PIP).

“VIENA – Epic Kalevala Adventure”.

Vienan Portti Oy as one of the seven applicants received funding for the development of the free, adventure mobile game “VIENA – Epic Kalevala Adventure”.

The game is based on kalevala’s stories and authentic local history and sites in the poetry villages of  Viena Karelia. The starting point for the design of the game was to make the themes and items it presented known and to attract interest in them, thereby also increasing the tourist potential of the region. In collaboration with Vienan Portti Oy, the game has been completed by Kajak Games Osk, run by students from Kajaani University of Applied Sciences, and its internal game team Radical Red Games.

The game is made in Finnish and English and is available for free download on Android 10 mobile devices from the Google Play store.  Find Out More HERE.

Kainuun Opisto Oy – Cultural Trips in the Footsteps of the Kalevala

Kainuun Opisto is a community college and course centre open to all. The institution is located in Paltamo, on the shores of Lake Oulujärvi. They offer conference and training services, facilities for parties as well as accommodation and catering services. The story of the institution goes back more than 100 years.

Our Literary Tourism Plans:

Tours of 1-4 days to destinations around Kainuu region that Elias Lönnrot visited when he was the district doctor and was collecting the poems for the Finnish national epic The Kalevala. Combining literature with culture, landscapes and nature bringing the tourists a broader understanding of the literature. In addition to culture (music, theatre) and literature, the tour products will involve different experiences such as wellness, exercise, traditional medicine (Kalevala style), nature experiences etc. Transport, accommodation and meals will also be arranged.

Find Out More HERE.

Culture Cooperative G-voima & Vaara Collective: Developing a Dramatic Eino Leino Product Family.

Cultural cooperative G-voima was founded in 2006. Vaara-collective is a performing arts collective founded in 2014, producing high quality creative performing and applied art locally and nationally.

Our home base is at Generaattori (in English, “the Generator”) house of performing arts situated in the centre of Kajaani. Generaattori is managed by G-Voima and the space is shared by contemporary dance production group Routa Company, Kajaani Amateur Theatre and Vaara-Collective. Our operations are quite diverse, annually producing 5-10 theatre and dance premieres, guest performances, residencies, training, concerts, discussion events and other events.

Our Literary Tourism Plans:

In summer 2019, we launched our first Literary Tourism product; the Eino Leino cruise on The SS Kouta, a Finnish steamship built in 1920, with actor Sami Sainio in charachter as the late poet Eino Leino. The cruise will be offered for the full summer 2020 season. (Due to the ship capacity, numbers are limited.) Find Out More HERE.

Veikko Huovinen Society

Veikko Huovinen (1927 –2009) was a novelist who lived in Sotkamo in the Kainuu region. He was trained as a forester and practised this profession from 1953 to 1956, he then began a career as a writer. His writing is known for its realism, pacifism, sharp intellect, and especially a peculiar humour, Huovinen observed and analysed the world closely, often through satire.

Our Literary Tourism Plans:

The sites related to Huovinen in Sotkamo include his grave found in Sotkamo, as well as a statue “Havukka-ahon ajattelija’ by artist Nina Terno and a memorial forest dedicated for him. The Huovinen society also arranges many kinds of annual activities. A replica of his study is open to the public in summertime where items from his original office can be viewed.

Veikko Huovinen society plans to further develop the study of Veikko Huovinen and offer year-round activities. New guided tours based on storytelling will be launched with partners. Connected to this process is also raising awareness of the forgotten writers Heikki Meriläinen and Viena Korhonen of Sotkamo. Find Out More HERE.

Idän Taiga Association – Developing Kalevala for the International Tourist

The Idän Taiga association has about 60 member companies mainly located in Kuhmo and Suomussalmi areas in Eastern Kainuu, marketed under the Wild Taiga brand name. The network of member companies offer opportunities to hike in magnificent, unspoiled nature, watch and photograph wildlife, and also enjoy cultural activities.

Our Literary Tourism Plans:

The network of member companies participating in The Spot-lit Literary Product Innovation Programme have begun work on the development of activities for both domestic and foreign tourists. The activities will bring the Kalevala to life across a range of products and services and support the newly established status of Kuhmo city as a UNESCO City of Literature. Find Out More HERE

Eino Leino House Foundation – Kullervo Play


Poet Eino Leino was born in 1878 in Paltaniemi, where you will find the Eino Leino traditional house, built according to Leino’s childhood home. Today the traditional house is maintained by Eino Leino House Foundation dedicated to showcasing the poet’s life and extensive work. The foundation promotes culture related to the house and its surroundings. One of the important tasks of the foundation is to support research related to both Elias Lönnrot and Eino Leino and the publication of related literature in various forms.

Our Literary Tourism Plans:

With the support from Spot-lit project, Eino Leino house foundation plans to write, direct and pilot one of the cornerstones of Finnish literature, the story of Kullervo, as a play. The play will focus on the Kalevala, the life and work of Elias Lönnrot and the Kainuu region and will include song and dance depicting the Kalevala ‘story telling’ tradition. Find Out More HERE

Suomussalmi Municipality – Hossa Storytelling Bootcamp

Suomussalmi municipality is located in the northern part of Kainuu region, bordering Russia. Known for its pristine nature, strong cultural sector and history. Raate village in Suomussalmi was the setting of decisive battles during the Winter War in 1940.

Supporting the distinctive culture of the region and developing the area of Hossa national park are priorities for Suomussalmi municipality.

Our Literary Tourism Plans:

Development and piloting a storytelling boot camp in the area of Hossa national park, bringing 10-12 writers from literature, theatre and movie industries in for 5 days in 2021. If found feasible, this will be continued as an annual event. Find Out More HERE.

The Cluster Lit&Tour Questionnaire

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Our colleagues in The University of Lisbon & University of the Algarve are conducting research on the intersection of the scientific areas of Literature and Tourism. Your participation in this survey would be hugely appreciated:  Short Survey. 

The Cluster Lit&Tour was founded in 2012 with the aim of promoting research on the intersection of the scientific areas of Literature and Tourism. An interdisciplinary confluence that has the capability to reframe geography, rebuild places and redefine concepts such as literary place, tourist or traveller.
Today,  Lit&Tour researchers  develop research around three main hubs:
(i) Concepts and methodologies: focused on the definition of concepts and methodologies that would enable the existence and autonomy of Literature and Tourism Studies as a discipline;
(ii) Representations of tourism in literature: focused on textual analysis;
(iii) Literary Tourism: focused on the study of literary tourism practices and products, and on the development of literary products and experiences.

 

Find out more HERE

Travel Bubble to be Developed in Kainuu?

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A working group has been established to develop travel safety and prepare a future Travel Bubble in Kainuu.

The current state of emergency within the tourism industry, caused by the corona pandemic, is painfully affecting Northern Finland. There are plans to create a so-called Travel Bubble for example in Finnish Lapland, that have already been in the national headlines.

The situation is similar also in the Kainuu region, where tourism industry forms a significant proportion of the regional economy. On Thursday the 10th September, the regional mayor Pentti Malinen invited a team of experts in a remote meeting to discuss the situation. The participants agreed to establish a working group to study tourism safety and the possible Travel Bubble operating model in Kainuu.

The work group includes e.g.

Pandemic Manager Olli-Pekka Koukkari from Kainuu Social and Welfare Authority,
Municipal Director of Suomussalmi, Mr Erno Heikkinen,
Tourism Manager Aija Laukkanen from Suomussalmi,
Managing Director Heidi Pyykkönen from Vuokatti Tourism Centre,
Regional Development Specialist Minna Komulainen, Regional Council of Kainuu,
Sector Manager Tuomo Tahvanainen, Regional Development Company Kainuun Etu Ltd.

The group will be supplemented so that all Kainuu tourist areas, Finavia and Visit Finland will also be represented.

All the corona cases and infection chains that have recently been reported in Kainuu have now been traced. According to pandemic manager Olli-Pekka Koukkari, it is safe to travel to Kainuu at the moment.
The work group for tourism safety was established on 10 September 2020 to map out the possibilities occurring in Kainuu in case the Finnish government decides on a new hybrid strategy for travel. The goal of this work group is to form a joint vision and define safety guidelines for safe travel to Kainuu, to be applied in future tourism sales.

“The Travel Bubble could save the coming winter season in terms of international tourism,” says Mr Paavo Virkkunen, Director of Visit Finland. Attending the meeting, he thinks it is good that Kainuu is taking the lead in the Finnish Lakeland area to develop travel safety, professionally preparing for the possible release of the travel restrictions caused by the pandemic in the near future. “As the borders are opened for tourism, we will be ready.”

Recovering demand for charter flights are a prerequisite for creating a Travel Bubble. Ensuring travel safety and smooth testing are essential factors for both the tourists and the inhabitants and entrepreneurs of Kainuu region.

According to Pandemic Manager Olli-Pekka Koukkari, the world will be wrestling with the coronavirus for a long time before vaccinations are brought to rescue on a comprehensive level. He instructed the group on the health authorities’ approach to supporting health safety in cooperation with Finavia, in charge of the airports in Finland,  and on what is possible and realistic for the Social and Welfare Authority related to monitoring tourists. “At this stage, it is important to ensure the safety of future travelers, both individuals and groups, and to introduce instructions on safe travel, such as downloading the national Koronavilkku smart phone application, mask recommendations, social distancing and hand hygiene,” Olli-Pekka Koukkari says.

Regional Mayor Pentti Malinen finds it also important that the organisations in Kainuu are organizing themselves to investigate the new tourism opportunities in this challenging situation and setting up a wide-ranging work group to develop local solutions. According to Malinen, “Good local solutions must also be developed in Kainuu, so that the region is a safe and attractive tourist destination. The space we have and the good health safety can be our competitive advantages. ”

For more information, please contact:

Regional Mayor Pentti Malinen,  tel. +358 44 7970 197, pentti.malinen@kainuu.fi
Pandemic Manager Olli-Pekka Koukkari,  tel. +358 44 797 4668, olli-pekka.koukkari@kainuu.fi
Regional Development Specialist Minna Komulainen, tel. +358 44 410 0726, minna.komulainen@kainuu.fi

Photo: Vuokatti image bank

Courtesy of  Kainuun liitto 

Launch of ‘VIENA – Epic Kalevala Adventure’ in Kainuu, Finland

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In spring of 2020, Spot-lit project partners in Kainuu, Finland selected seven product development ideas related to literary tourism for development and funding.

Today we are delighted to launch the first of these products: Vienan Portti Oy’s mobile game “VIENA – Epic Kalevala Adventure” .

Vienan Portti Oy as one of the seven applicants received funding for the development of the free, adventure mobile game “VIENA – Epic Kalevala Adventure”

The game is based on kalevala’s stories and authentic local history and sites in the poetry villages of  Viena Karelia. The starting point for the design of the game was to make the themes and items it presented known and to attract interest in them, thereby also increasing the tourist potential of the region. In collaboration with Vienan Portti Oy, the game has been completed by Kajak Games Osk, run by students from Kajaani University of Applied Sciences, and its internal game team Radical Red Games.

Traditional themes in a new format

“I’m excited about the game’s release and how the game has been adapted to the elements familiar from literature. The game has given written stories a visual form, which also inspires young people to get to know tradition and possibly also visit the site to experience the magic of the environment,” says the father of the idea, Keijo Ahtonen.

The game is made in Finnish and English and is available for free download on Android 10 mobile devices from the Google Play store. The game is therefore suitable for both domestic and international markets, and through it information about kaininga’s history can be experienced widely. It is a technologically innovative approach to literary tourism and the promotion of Kainnu’s culture to large audiences at national and international level.

Vienan Portti is a family business

Vienan Portti Oy is a company founded in 2019, located on an old Karelian family farm in Kuhmo Vartiuskylä, a few kilometers from the Russian border. The history of the farm means that it is well placed to promote karelianism and Karelianism, (Karelianism was a late 19th-century cultural phenomenon in the Grand Duchy of Finland and involved writers, painters, poets and sculptors). Eljas Ahtonen, the ancestor of the current owners, better known as The Uljaska of  The Rmmin, was a model for Akseli Gallen-Kallela when he painted väinämö in his famous Aino triptych.

Eljas Ahtonen, the ancestor of the current owners, better known as The Uljaska of  The Rmmin, was a model for Akseli Gallen-Kallela when he painted väinämö in his famous Aino triptych.

Keijo Ahtonen and Pirjo Kyllönen are entrepreneurs on their traditional family farm. Vienan Port will provide programme services and accommodation for tourists in the future where visitors can enjoy Viena delicacies. This summer Rimm has already got off to a good start in renovating the sites. The work continues, but you can enjoy the atmosphere of Rimm on a limited schedule at the Furniture Shed Café.

The authentic history of the farm, the proximity of the Russian border and many historical/mythical sites create a certain attraction both for the site itself and for the program services offered there. Site-based virtual experiences are also being developed on a long-term basis, enabling future customers to experience the world of Kalevala in almost its authentic environments.

Spot-lit project is funded by Interreg Northern Periphery and Arctic Programme 2014 – 2020.

Kainuun Opisto Oy – Cultural Trips in the Footsteps of  the Kalevala

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Kainuun Opisto is a community college and course centre open to all.  The institution is located in Paltamo, on the shores of Lake Oulujärvi. They offer conference and training services, facilities for parties as well as accommodation and catering services. The story of the institution goes back more than 100 years.

Our Literary Tourism Plans:

Tours of 1-4 days to destinations around Kainuu region that Elias Lönnrot visited when he was the district doctor and was collecting the poems for the Finnish national epic The Kalevala. Combining literature with culture, landscapes and nature bringing the tourists a broader understanding of the literature. In addition to culture (music, theatre) and literature, the tour products will involve different experiences  such as wellness, exercise, traditional medicine (Kalevala style), nature experiences etc. Transport, accommodation and meals will also be arranged.

The products are targeted both for domestic and international audience, since the work of Elias Lönnrot has given inspiration to international authors, artists and other national epics.

Contact Us:

 

 

 

 

 

Partners:

 

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