Excelling North – Four Seasons of Attraction (EiNo)

Focusing on strengthening and diversifying international tourism

The operating environment for international tourism has changed rapidly. Geopolitical uncertainty, shifts in travel flows, and reduced national development resources highlight the need to strengthen the project area’s own capabilities in internationalisation. To support sustainable tourism growth, it is essential to diversify target markets and customer segments and ensure that demand does not rely too heavily on any single group.

The project aims to increase year-round international tourism, strengthen the region’s visibility, improve accessibility, and develop cooperation with international tour operators. Special attention will be given to boosting demand during the low seasons, making better use of current and future accommodation capacity, developing group travel, and productising new tourism offerings.

Digitalisation and data-driven management will be utilised in the project to support sustainable growth.

Developing group travel will also help increase charter and scheduled flights to Kuusamo Airport and improve accessibility across the entire project area. The project promotes responsible tourism by taking into account social acceptance, managing tourism growth, and preparing for the impacts of climate change.

The project will be implemented across two regions: Northern Ostrobothnia (Kuusamo, Taivalkoski and Pudasjärvi) and Lapland (Salla and Posio). The project is co-funded by the European Union.

The project will run from 1 June 2026 to 30 June 2028. The lead partner is Naturpolis Ltd (Kuusamo and Taivalkoski), with co-implementing partners including Ruka-Kuusamo Tourist Association, Pudasjärvi Development Company, and the municipalities of Salla and Posio. Naturpolis Ltd’s share of the project budget is €576,121, of which €460,897 (80%) is funded through ERDF support from Northern Ostrobothnia. The total budget of the joint project is €1,739,902.

For more information: Anna-Riitta Sulander, Project Manager/Naturpolis Oy, +358 40 727 4222