Head of Visit Finland Paavo Virkkunen: expecting more Chinese tourists to experience the charm of Finland

From September 2nd to the 4th, Helsinki, Finland hosted the 2019 World Tourism Cities Federation (WTCF) Helsinki Fragrant Hills Tourism Summit. During the summit, the Head of Visit Finland Paavo Virkkunen said in an exclusive interview that he expected more Chinese tourists to discover the charm of Finland by touring the country.

Release time : 2019-09-15 18:02:50

source : WTCF

As one of the European destination countries that witnessed the highest growth in the number of Chinese tourists in 2018, Finland is winning the favor of an increasing number of Chinese tourists. From September 2nd to the 4th, Helsinki, Finland hosted the 2019 World Tourism Cities Federation (WTCF) Helsinki Fragrant Hills Tourism Summit. During the summit, the Head of Visit Finland Paavo Virkkunen said in an exclusive interview that he expected more Chinese tourists to discover the charm of Finland by touring the country.

The Head of Visit Finland Paavo Virkkunen presided overForum Session IV: Technological Innovation & Sustainable Travel during the 2019 WTCF Helsinki Fragrant Hills Tourism Summit.

At the opening ceremony of the summit, the Chinese ambassador to Finland Chen Li stated in an interview, “In 2018, the number of Chinese tourists who stayed overnight in Finland exceeded 330,000 and China became Finland’s biggest source of tourists, second only to the EU. In the first 7 months of 2019 alone, the number of Chinese tourists who stayed overnight in Finland totaled 216,000，recording a year-on-year growth rate of 16.9%. ”

Why is Finland loved by so many Chinese tourists? The Head of Visit Finland Paavo Virkkunen explained the three primary reasons, which were the natural environment of the country, its distinct infrastructure and promotional interests.

Paavo Virkkunen also stated, “First of all, Finland is a pure travelling destination. The observation of nature is the cornerstone of Finland’s tourism development. Finland offers four main traveling destinations: Lapland in the north, the Lakeland in the southeast, seaside areas including islands and the urban area of Helsinki. In addition, Finland is characterized by four distinct seasons, offering travelers fantastic touring experiences. For example, tourists can experience ice, snow, and watch the aurora borealis in winter. Moreover, they can enjoy the sunlight 24