Ruka-Kuusamo Tourist Association

Ruka-Kuusamo Tourist Association, contact details

The e-mail addresses are in the form of frontname.lastname@rukakuusamo.fi unless otherwise stated. 
The office of Ruka-Kuusamo Tourist Association is located in Ruka village, Rukatunturintie 9, 93830 Rukatunturi.

Invoicing address
VAT 1791616-2 (FI17916162)
Online invoicing address 003717916162 
Online invoicing operator Maventa
Operator id 003721291126, DABAFIHH. 
If online invoicing is not possible, invoices can also be sent in PDF format: invoice-17916162@kollektor.fi. One invoice pe PDF file and the name of the file can only contain ordinary letters: a-z, A-Z, 0-9. 

Payment term: 14 days
Paper invoices: please send them to Ruka-Kuusamo Matkailu ry, 17916162, PL 100, 80020 Kollektor Scan (possible referring details must be included according to the instructions by the person who has ordered the goods/services). Please note: this address is valid only for invoicing.

Naturpolis Ltd

Ongoing projects: Rethinking North - Year-round Tourism as a Key to Success. Ruka-Kuusamo Tourist Association is a co-organiser and Naturpolis is the administrator of the projects. The e-mail addresses of the project personnel are in the form of frontname.lastname@naturpolis.fi.

The board of Ruka-Kuusamo Tourist Association

The board consists of 5-6 members and 1-2 alternate members. Here ist the board from 29.1.2025 onwards: 

Teams of Ruka-Kuusamo Tourist Association

Everyday work and communication with the members of the tourist association is supported by different teams. More information is available from the Administrative Manager Suvi Juntunen.

Ruka-Kuusamo Tourist Association was founded in 2002. We represent the Kuusamo tourism industry. The purpose of the association is to develop the region's attractiveness and reputation as a year-round tourist destination in Finland and in the international market. Our goal is to be the best outdoor destination in the Nordics by 2030.

Association has nearly 150 companies as members, which represent more than 95 % of the region's tourism revenue.

The purpose of the association is to develop the operating environment of companies providing services in the Ruka-Kuusamo tourism area, to increase the international and national attractiveness and recognition of the area, and to increase income and employment from tourism in such a way that the interests of tourism companies are taken into account in a sustainable way.

Tourist association produces tourist maps and is in charge of the overall marketing of tourism in the area. The most important channel is the year round website Ruka.fi. We are active in social media such as Facebook, Instagram, Youtube and Vimeo. 

Any company operating in the Kuusamo area can become a member of the association. A one-time joining fee of 100 € + VAT 24% is charged to the company applying for membership. The membership application will be processed by the board of the association at its next meeting. The association's operating year is 1.10.-30.9. The annual membership fee of the member company is basically based on the company's turnover according to a certain percentage formula and the marketing tools chosen by the member in the brochures produced by Ruka-Kuusamo Tourist Association and on the Ruka.fi website.

Membership benefits: 

• The possibility to appear on the Ruka.fi website, which is one of Finland's most popular travel websites.
• Ability to appear on Facebook; 39 000 followers.
• Abitility to appear on Instagram; 19 000 followers.
• Member newsletter approximately every 2 weeks; information on the development of tourism in the region (including overnight stays and flight statistics), tips on training, guidance on tourism marketing, etc.
• The opportunity to create contacts and increase sales, e.g. by participating in tour operator and media visits as well as sales and training events carried out by the association.
• The opportunity to participate in the production of marketing material for the region (photos, videos) and thus gain visibility for one's own company in the marketing of the region.
• The right to use the regional logo alongside their own company logo on their own websites and brochures.
• The right to use images and videos owned by Ruka-Kuusamo Tourist Association in marketing (excluding sales products such as mugs, postcards, clothes, etc.).

Fill in our membership application form!

More information: Administrative Manager Suvi Juntunen, suvi.juntunen@rukakuusamo.fi, +358 40 5090 430. 

Supporting members:

Companies operating on other fields than directly in tourism can join as supporting members if they wish. A supporting member does not have the right to speak or vote at the association's annual meetings. The support membership fee is determined according to the company's turnover and size category as follows: If the company's turnover is over 1 million. € or more than 10 employees, the supporter membership fee is 750 € + VAT 24%.

Other companies are considered small companies, whose support membership fee is 280 € + VAT 24%.

Members

The members of Ruka-Kuusamo Tourist Association are listed according to the fields of service from section Services & contacts. 

Members can ask for a list of members (including supporting members) by e-mail, suvi.juntunen@rukakuusamo.fi. 

The rules of the Ruka‑Kuusamo Tourist Association were approved at the founding meeting held in Kuusamo on 18 October 2002. After amendments required by the registering authority, the association was entered in the Register of Associations on 27 February 2003. At the Spring General Meeting on 11 April 2005, the rules were amended to correspond to the new financial year of 1 October – 30 September. At the Spring General Meeting on 21 February 2014, the rules were amended, among other things, with regard to the size of the Board and the principles for its election; the name was changed to Ruka‑Kuusamo Tourist Association, and the title of Executive Director was changed to Managing Director. At the Autumn General Meeting on 25 January 2021, the rules were amended concerning participation in association meetings.

1. Name and Domicile of the Association

The name of the association is Ruka‑Kuusamo Tourist Association, and its domicile is Kuusamo.

2. Purpose and Nature of Activities

The purpose of the association is to promote cooperation among companies operating in the Kuusamo and Ruka tourism areas, to increase the international and national attractiveness and visibility of the area as a tourism destination, and to act as an advocate for tourism in the region.

To achieve its purpose, the association may:

• organise information and negotiation events between regional companies, property owners, public authorities and other stakeholders in order to align objectives and operating models
• disseminate information about its members’ activities and services, the region’s industries and natural conditions, history, current situation and future plans through the media and by organising information events
• develop and maintain the most important routes for the tourism industry and their maintenance
• develop and maintain ski bus services and other public transport in the Ruka‑Kuusamo area
• coordinate and organise annually recurring as well as individual sports and tourism events
• develop and maintain tourism information services and a central booking operation
• develop and maintain internet websites
• carry out and coordinate statistics, marketing and other research related to the tourism sector, as well as industry‑related publishing activities
• organise training for its members
• participate, as a representative of the tourism industry, in regional community planning, including zoning and infrastructure projects, and engage in cooperation with other tourism companies in North‑Eastern Finland

The association does not aim to generate profit or other direct financial benefit through its activities.

To support its operations, the association collects funds through joining fees, membership fees, supporting membership fees and supporting member fees; by selling advertising space; by engaging in publishing activities; by entering into sponsorship agreements; by applying for grants from public bodies; by accepting donations and bequests; and by owning and maintaining real estate and shares necessary for its operations.

3. Members

The association has ordinary members, supporting members and supporting (non‑voting) members.

An ordinary member may be a person residing in the Kuusamo area, a natural person engaged in business activities, or a legally competent entity.

Supporting members may be persons and legally competent entities engaged in tourism business activities. Supporting members do not have voting rights but have the right to speak at association meetings.

Any natural person or legally competent entity may join as a supporting (non‑voting) member. Supporting (non‑voting) members have neither voting nor speaking rights.

Membership is confirmed by the Board of the association. The decision must be communicated to the applicant in writing. The membership register is maintained by the Board. Membership rights acquired before the entry into force of these rules shall remain valid.

4. Resignation and Expulsion of a Member

A member may resign from the association by notifying it in accordance with the Associations Act. However, the member must pay the membership fee for the current year.

A member may be expelled from the association by a unanimous decision of the Board if the member has failed to pay a due membership fee despite a payment reminder, or has through their conduct within or outside the association significantly harmed the association or the fulfilment of its activities and purpose, or has failed to fulfil the obligations to which they committed upon joining the association. If the Board expels a member on the above grounds, the member must pay all fees that have already fallen due. Before a decision is made, the member concerned must be given an opportunity to present an explanation, except when the reason for expulsion is non‑payment of the membership fee.

5. Fees

To achieve its purpose, the association may charge a joining fee, an annual membership fee, an additional membership fee, a supporting membership fee and a supporting (non‑voting) member fee.

Ordinary members may be charged a joining fee, a membership fee and an additional membership fee. The amount of the membership fee may be determined wholly or partly based on the member’s turnover. The fee may vary depending on the member’s turnover, line of business or the location of the member’s place of business.

An additional membership fee may be charged to cover annual, unforeseen cost increases.

The amounts of joining and membership fees, excluding the additional membership fee, the amount of which is decided by the Board, are decided at the Spring General Meeting of the association.

6. Board

The Board of the association consists of 5–6 ordinary members and 1–2 deputy members. The Board shall be selected in a way that broadly represents the association’s membership and the accumulation of membership fees. Persons selected to the Board shall be willing and capable of developing tourism in the Ruka‑Kuusamo area. The Board elects a Chair and a Vice‑Chair from among its members. The Board may appoint a nomination committee before the Annual General Meeting to make a proposal to the meeting regarding the composition of the next Board.

Members and deputy members of the Board are elected for a term of one (1) year at the Autumn General Meeting of the association.

Deputy members of the Board have the right to attend and speak at meetings but do not have voting rights in voting situations. Deputy members are also provided with agendas and minutes. If an ordinary Board member is unable to attend a meeting, they must inform the Chair, and a deputy member shall attend the meeting in their place with voting rights.

The association may have a Managing Director appointed by the Board, as well as other employees. Employees are not members of the Board but may act as presenters to the Board.

The duties of the Board include preparing matters for meetings, implementing decisions of meetings, and overseeing that the association’s tasks are carried out in accordance with the approved budget.

The Board convenes at the invitation of the Chair, or in their absence the Vice‑Chair, when they deem it necessary or when at least half of the Board members so request.

The Board has a quorum when at least half of its members, including the Chair or Vice‑Chair, are present. Decisions are made by a simple majority of votes. In the event of a tie, the Chair has the casting vote.

During the financial year, projects outside the action plan may be implemented by a decision of the Board if they receive 100 % external funding. External funding may also consist of voluntary additional payments made by members of the association for the specific purpose. These additional payments do not affect voting rights.

7. Signing on Behalf of the Association

The right to sign on behalf of the association rests with the Chair of the Board and the Managing Director, each acting alone, or with a person authorised by the Board acting alone.

8. Financial Year and Audit

The financial year of the association is 1 October – 30 September. The association shall have an auditor authorised at KHT level and a deputy auditor elected by the Autumn General Meeting.

9. Meetings of the Association

The association holds two ordinary meetings annually: a Spring General Meeting and an Autumn General Meeting. The Autumn General Meeting must be held in January, and the Spring General Meeting by the end of June.

At the Spring General Meeting, the following matters shall be addressed:

1. election of the Chair of the meeting, Secretary, inspectors of the minutes and vote counters
2. confirmation of the legality and quorum of the meeting
3. approval of the agenda
4. approval of the action plan for the following operational year
5. approval of membership and other statutory fees for the following operational year
6. approval of the budget for the following operational year
7. consideration of other matters proposed by the Board or submitted in writing to the Board by members at least one month before the meeting

At the Autumn General Meeting, the following matters shall be addressed:

1. election of the Chair of the meeting, Secretary, inspectors of the minutes and vote counters
2. confirmation of the legality and quorum of the meeting
3. approval of the agenda
4. consideration of the financial statements prepared by the Board, including the annual report, income statement and balance sheet
5. presentation of the auditor’s report, decision on approval of the financial statements and granting of discharge from liability to the Board and other accountable parties
6. election of an auditor and a deputy auditor
7. decision on the number of Board members and deputy members, and election of Board members and deputy members
8. consideration of other matters proposed by the Board or submitted in writing to the Board by members at least one month before the meeting

Meeting invitations and other notices to members shall be sent to the email address provided by the member. Invitations to ordinary and extraordinary meetings must be sent at least two (2) weeks before the meeting.

At an association meeting, an ordinary member may exercise their voting rights through an authorised representative. However, no one may represent more than three members.

Before the meeting, at a time determined by the Board, the member must submit the documentation specified by the Board concerning the financial statements or bookkeeping in order to confirm the membership fee and number of votes.

A member who has not fulfilled their membership fee obligations has no voting rights.

A member’s number of votes equals their membership fee divided by EUR 1,000, rounded up to the nearest whole number. However, a member’s number of votes may not exceed one third of the votes represented at the meeting.

Decisions are made by a simple majority of votes. However, amendments to the rules require a two‑thirds (2/3) majority, and dissolution of the association requires a three‑quarters (3/4) majority of the votes cast at the meeting.

Participation in statutory association meetings and Board meetings may take place either physically or remotely via a telecommunications connection, in which case remote participants also have voting rights.

10. Amendment of the Rules and Dissolution of the Association

A decision to amend the rules must be made by a two‑thirds (2/3) majority of the votes cast. A decision to dissolve the association must be made by a three‑quarters (3/4) majority of the votes cast. The meeting invitation must mention the amendment of the rules or the dissolution of the association.

When the association has decided to dissolve, the Board shall take care of the liquidation procedures resulting from the dissolution, unless the association has appointed one or more other liquidators in place of the Board. However, liquidation procedures are not required if, at the time of deciding on dissolution, the association has approved a final settlement prepared by the Board indicating that the association has no debts.

After a decision on dissolution, the association’s financial activities may continue only to the extent required for appropriate liquidation. The liquidators have the right to request a public summons to creditors and the right to place the association’s assets into bankruptcy.

Upon dissolution of the association, its remaining unrestricted assets shall be used to promote the association’s purpose in a manner decided by the dissolution meeting. If the remaining assets cannot be used in accordance with the rules after debts have been paid, the liquidators shall transfer them to the State to be used, where possible, to promote a purpose closely related to the association’s activities. The liquidators shall prepare a final liquidation report and ensure its preservation.

The association shall be deemed dissolved when the dissolution has been entered in the Register of Associations.