Conference Organisers' Perceptions of Helsinki
Bühler, Stefanie (2015)
Laurea-ammattikorkeakoulu
2015
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Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2015110816078
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2015110816078
Tiivistelmä
The purpose of this Bachelor’s thesis is to identify whether conference organisers present Helsinki as a tourist destination or as a knowledge hub in their own field of expertise. The thesis was commissioned by the Helsinki Convention & Events Bureau. The research focuses on conferences that took place between 2013 and 2015.
The theoretical framework explains destination images and their relation to business tourism. Furthermore, it introduces the essential definitions of conference and conference tourism, including the main types of conferences, selection criteria as well as the relation between business and leisure tourism and different types of business tourists. Moreover, tourism statis-tics relevant to the topic are presented. For the research, a qualitative research method is used in form of content analysis.
The research results are divided into two parts; Helsinki being presented as a tourist destina-tion and Helsinki being presented from a professional view point, the previous one being based on Visit Helsinki's 12 reasons to visit Helsinki, which are modified to better fit the re-search objective.
The results of the research indicate that Helsinki is mostly presented as a tourist destination. However, in that case the main focus is mostly on practical attributes, such as good connec-tions and safety. Nonetheless, tourist attractions and Helsinki's maritime appeal ranked rela-tively high as well. Furthermore, a significant amount of conference organisers present Hel-sinki from a professional point of view.
The theoretical framework explains destination images and their relation to business tourism. Furthermore, it introduces the essential definitions of conference and conference tourism, including the main types of conferences, selection criteria as well as the relation between business and leisure tourism and different types of business tourists. Moreover, tourism statis-tics relevant to the topic are presented. For the research, a qualitative research method is used in form of content analysis.
The research results are divided into two parts; Helsinki being presented as a tourist destina-tion and Helsinki being presented from a professional view point, the previous one being based on Visit Helsinki's 12 reasons to visit Helsinki, which are modified to better fit the re-search objective.
The results of the research indicate that Helsinki is mostly presented as a tourist destination. However, in that case the main focus is mostly on practical attributes, such as good connec-tions and safety. Nonetheless, tourist attractions and Helsinki's maritime appeal ranked rela-tively high as well. Furthermore, a significant amount of conference organisers present Hel-sinki from a professional point of view.