1. Researcher Inka Makkonen Petrozavodsk, 19.11.2013
White Road
Researcher
Inka Makkonen
Petrozavodsk,

2. Operating in Russia – Finnish tourism entrepreneurs’ experiences
-Aim of the study

3. Methods Ten theme interviews in White Road -area
Informants Finnish tourism program service entrepreneurs, development managers and experts of local tourism
Groups:
Companies which are operating in Russia or
have operated in Russia or
are interested in expanding their business to Russia
Collected via telephone & f2f, 5+5
Interviews from Kuusamo, Kuhmo, Suomussalmi, Sotkamo and Kajaani

4. Themes Attraction attributes of Russia Cooperation Accessibility
Services
-Four prior themes emerged which are attraction attributes of Russia etc.

5. Attraction attributes of Russia
Exoticism
Cultural aspects: authenticity, disparity & originality
Nature: scenery, genuine forests, animal observation & fishing
Financial benefits: profitableness, cross-border tourism product is highly attractive and customer satisfaction is high
Closeness to Finland
Why Finnish entrepreneur wants to go to Russia? What are the key attraction factors of Russia?
Uninhabited nature
Exoticism mentioned in every interview -> connected to the cultural aspects -> food, culture
From cross-border tourism product, it is possible to make a profit, both of the partners

6. Cooperation Local partner & travel agencies Uncertainty
Problems with finding a suitable partner; networking, language skills
Business in Russia not possible without a local partner.
Nearly all of the companies which are actively operating Russia, bought the whole service from the Russian partner -> motivation on both sides of the partnership -> success
Business in Russia had ended because of lack of reliable and a local partner. They had problems with permits and the local authorities.
Lack of partner and wish for example a bigger travel agency which would make the cross-border tourism package

7. Accessibility In general Russia is hard to reach
Need for more information:
Border-crossing regime
Permits
Law & rights
Health-care
Website?
”When it’s difficult to go somewhere, you might want to go there even more”
Visa
Planning is difficult; nowhere info about services
Permits, which are needed and where you can get those? Use of nature? Hunting?
Law: What are the consequences of misconduction/ if someone does something wrong?
Development idea; a website which contains current information.

8. Accessibility
Condition of the roads -> better quality of the products & new destinations
Lack of road signs
Visa -> quicker prosedure or exemption of visa
Bad condition of roads & bridges; in some cases ”one part of the travel experience”

9. Services Food services, accommodation & program services
Respondents were satisfied
Some improvement actions need to be made but the uniqueness of the destination should be preserved
Pricing
The quality of the services were good
Accommodation: Homes, cottages & hotels
In some cases prices too high comparison to the quality, and in these cases quality should rise and then the price could stay in the level as it is.

10. Highlights Attractiveness of Russia Language
Successfull cooperation occured when Finnish company bought the whole service from Russia
Opportunity for a financial benefit
Travel agencies from Central Europe & Russia; Russian customers also to Finland
To build a successfull partnership requires trust and sides should know each other well; social networks

11. Спасибо!