"Eco-efficient tourism" aims at future

The seminar "Marketing of eco-efficient technologies. Investments in sustainable development." took place in Joensuu and Ilomantsi on November 21-22, 2013. The seminar offered examples how communities and businesses can improve eco-efficiency in their day to day tourism business through marketing (e.g., by using collaboration and electronic means) as well as how to attract investments in tourism sector. Examples included real case examples from both Republic of Karelia and Finland.

The specialists from Republic of Karelia (Petrozavodsk, Pryazha and Sortavala) as well as Finnish experts attended the event.

The first day of the seminar was held in Joensuu and focused on marketing. The whole day session was open to all interested in cross-border tourism parties like local entrepreneurs, development organizations, administrative officials, representatives of Biosphere Reserves, students, researchers and regular citizens.

Real case examples of tourism marketing challenges and successes (like "Visitkarelia.ru" and “Keep Lapland Tidy” projects ) dominated the morning session. The afternoon session focused on realized projects within the umbrella of eco efficiency in tourism sector. The participants were shown the presentations of key cases from Russian Karelia (like "Tourist zone "Syamozerie" development concept") and Finnish North Karelia (like "Koli region as the corner stone resort in marketing of tourism in North Karelia").

The second day  was held in Möhkö village of Ilomantsi and intended for project partners and key stakeholders, municipality officials, and regional heads of tourism from Russia and Finland. Financing tools and future plans were presented by them. For instance, Timo J. Hokkanen presented tourism investment strategy for Finland giving examples of funding of which Finland uses and benefits. Also future funding options through EU programmes were discussed.

The seminar has surely become a good place for exchange of experience, knowledge as well as innovation ideas and ways of their implementation.