Technical Visits –matkailu Suomessa : Haastattelututkimus

Abstract

This paper is the final report of the research project TECHNICAL VISITS –MATKAILU SUOMESSA (Technical Visits Tourism in Finland). The study was an assignment received from Matkat (Finnish for ‘Journeys’), a project managed by Oulu University of Applied Sciences, Teuvo Pakkalan katu 19, 90130 Oulu, Finland. The commissioner’s contact info are Project Manager Mr Mika Määttä, mika.maatta@oamk.fi. Researcher and corresponding author of this paper is Mr Ismo Koponen, ismo.koponen@oamk.fi. The main concept and thus the most important keyword is ‘Technical Visits’. A synonymous term would be ‘Specialists Visits’. We understand that Technical Visits are mostly group visits made to organizations of special interests to the visitors. The aim of the study was to survey the current Technical Visits activity in Finland, in between November 2016 and February 2017. We collected the data by e-mail, by phone and in face-to-face conversations. Informants were representatives of a number of Finnish municipalities and their tourism organizations. Many cities and towns in the country have their own Technical Visits strategy. Estimations are that - in the minimum - hundreds of foreign groups with special interests visit Finnish organizations, on yearly basis, and that thousands of delegates take part in such visits. During their stays, delegates use hotel, restaurant and other local cervices. This may have a notable effect on local economies if not so strongly on the national one.