Finland’s education system earns worldwide recognition, adding to our country’s attractiveness as a destination to discover and explore. Visit Finland notes: ”Equality is one of the key cornerstones of the Finnish education system as well as the philosophy of continuous learning throughout life.”

Curiosity and attentiveness open new possibilities, and at Visit Arctic Coast we are always ready for new ventures. As a flexible network with an extensive offering for many target groups, we are eager to connect the right experiences with the right audiences. We believe international pupils can be inspired, enchanted, and educated in ways that stay with them long after their journey ends. Our Sales Manager Anu Kärnä has been deep diving into educational travel and last week as she hosted a familiarization tour and participated in an Educational Travel Workshop.

Here is Anu’s story and impressions from last week:

“Visit Arctic Coast had the pleasure of hosting eight Chinese tour operators specializing in educational travel on a three-day famtrip, organized together with Visit Finland and Finnair. Representatives from both organizations’ China offices joined the journey, making it a true collaborative effort.

The trip aimed to showcase the Arctic Coast region as a destination for international school and study tour groups. For many of the guests, this was their very first time exploring the region. During the trip, they visited Nallikari, Liminka, Kalajoki, Pietarsaari, and Lappajärvi, meeting local school principals and teachers to learn how Finnish school life, educational methods, and interaction with pupils can be integrated into international school camp programs. A shared school lunch of traditional fish soup with pupils and a chat with some Chinese students offered a genuine taste of everyday life.

The leisure program highlights included among others coastal program presentations in Nallikari, nature learning in Liminka’s wetlands and bird-watching paradise, e-fatbiking along the sandy beaches of Kalajoki, a visit to the Nanoq Arctic Museum in Jakobstad-Pietarsaari, and an introduction to Impact Crater Lake UNESCO Global Geopark in Lappajärvi.

Just a few days later, we happily reunited with our guests at Visit Finland’s Educational Travel Workshop in Helsinki. There we presented TornioHaparanda’s school camp opportunities, exchanged impressions of the famtrip in the Arctic Coast destinations, and discussed next steps for cooperation.

Warm thanks to all partners, schools, Visit Finland and Finnair, and 谢谢 (xièxiè) to our Chinese guests for an inspiring journey together!”