Travel is the largest export industry in the world.

EU Commission expects total of 700 million travelers to Europe by the year  registered nights in North Karelia on 2013.

Percentual growth of number of trips by 2020 will be most rapid in Russia.  50% of travelers in North Karelia are from Russia. About 13 million people live within 500 km radius from Joensuu.

Over 10 million trips classified as rural tourism are made from European countries.  According to Rural Business Register there are about businesses offering travel, accommodation and recreational services without farming activities and over multi-functional farms practicing tourism in rural areas.

Today, about 8 million snow holidays abroad are made from European countries. The amount is expected to be 9,8 million in  There are approximately 5 months of snow in North Karelia every year.

Short holidays are growing trend in tourism.  Well marketed, weekends and other short holidays can form a total of 40% from all registered nights. (Travel Strategy of North Karelia)

World becomes smaller by globalization.  New flight routes to North Karelia make flying to the region faster and easier, and also support both business and tourism.

The journey begins on the Internet. It raises consumer as ruler, growing the importance of branding.  VisitKarelia as brand and Karelia Expert as company provide services to meet the needs of customers on the Internet.

LOCAL EXPERT MILLION € %City of Lieksa 15 %North Karelia Regional Council 15 %Municipality of Ilomantsi 10 %PKO 9 %City of Joensuu 21 %Others

SUCCESSFUL PARTNERSHIP Professional services Tourist information MarketingSales

MARKETING VisitKarelia.fi Print marketing Campaigns Fairs & workshops

SALES Webstore Holiday cottages Events, meetings and congresses Registration services Tickets and related products

Tourist information Joensuu Lieksa Nurmes Ilomantsi Koli Central Karelia

Professional services Product development Training Projects Consulting

Karelia ENPI CBC partnerships How do we contribute Develop tourism, tourism services and e-services for tourists and professionals Develop modern channels and processes for information and product distributing Upkeep regional service data up-to-date Develop cross-border e- services and data exchange Cooperation with Several Karelia ENPI CBC project partnerships TICs of Russian Karelia Tourism professionals and administration in North Karelia, Finland Business partnerships both sides of border

Borderless VisitKarelia VisitKarelia.fi – North Karelia, Finland Info & guidance Tourism products Destinations & services Visitkarelia.ru – Russian Karelia Info & guidande Tourism products Destinations & services

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