[IMG=20887-6702]The Finnish destination has experienced several changes in the run up to the winter season 2006 – 2007. Firstly, at the end of August Arto Asikainen left the position of the Head of Finnish Tourist Board in Moscow. According to the information available to BANKO, he returned to Helsinki and will be responsible for Russia and Baltic countries in the local office of Finnish Tourist Board. Marja Mustajarvi replaced Mr. Asikanen at the position in the Finnish Tourist Board in Moscow. Russian tour operators pointed out undisputable contribution of Asikainen into the development of tourism between Russia and Finland. Nevertheless, according to experts, the new Head of the Finnish Tourist Board assured travel market players she will follow the politics of her predecessor that gives a hope for further improvements. ‘Moreover, Mr. Asikainen will continue working with the Russian market in Finland’, said Alexey Salomatov, General Director of Samiko.
Secondly, contradictory tendencies are outlined within winter programs of Russian tour operators. On the one hand, railway tours are in high demand in the season. On average, the demand for such tours has increased by 30% comparing to last year figures that might be explained fear of flying. Therefore, Labyrinth made a decision to operate one train from Moscow to Rovaniemi instead of one. Other travel market players that specialize in Finnish market do not plan the increase of railway traffic volume to Finland; however they also bank on railway tours. In particular, PAC Group organizes two trains from Moscow to Kaunu (New Year and Christmas) and one Moscow - Jyvaskyla - Kuopio (from January 3rd to January 11th).
On the other hand, air traffic volume is also increasing. The increase will mainly concern flights to Kitelä. Thus, Rostravel intend to increase air traffic volume to the destination by operating flights mainly by VIM-avia Boeing – 757 while a year ago the majority of flights were operated by smaller aircraft. Moreover, flights to Kitelä will be operated by Gasprom – Avia Tu-154. Furthermore, DSBW will consolidate its own flight with a potential to increase too. Labyrinth plans to operate charters from Moscow to Kitelä on December 29th, January 3rd and 10th. The company has not announced the airline yet. Tatiana Zotova, Commercial Director of Labyrinth, commented as follows: ‘we forecast a 15% growth in demand. In general my position at the moment – optimism on alert’.
Booming Kitelä is explained by its location – close to a well – known ski resort Levi (14 km, while it is 170 km far from Rovaniemi to Levi). ‘The demand for Levi doubled last year’, said Irina Palenova, Senior Manager of the Scandinavian Department of DSBW. Nevertheless, travel market players do not feel much enthusiasm towards one more charter. Thus, Alexey Petrov, General Director of Rostravel, said: ‘I do not think tourist flow will grow considerably this year. For the last years there was enough traffic volume to the country’.
