Cycling tourism forum held in Kemijärvi, Finland

The SUB partners of Finland organized their event Itä-Lapin pyörämatkailufoorumi (Biking Tourism Forum of Eastern Lapland).

The forum gathered local stakeholders to engage in important discussions about the development of sustainable biking tourism in Eastern Lapland. What are the possibilities? How can we develop in the most sustainable way? What have other places and people done right, and what can we learn from them?

The day started with inspiring and thought-provoking speeches on the potential of biking tourism in Eastern Lapland and its sustainable development. These speeches were delivered by Sanna Kyllönen, project manager of the SUB project, and Seija Tuulentie, Research Professor at LUKE (Natural Resources Institute Finland). Following this, we heard about other projects in the area specializing in the planning, development, and documentation of outdoor routes, including cycling routes.

Before lunch, we had the opportunity to hear Kyösti Soini share the success story of Syöte. Soini emphasized the importance of well-planned and well-maintained roads that offer something unique and special to their users. He also highlighted the importance of listening to and encouraging biking enthusiasts.

In the afternoon, Heli Laukkanen from Bikeland and Hannu Tiusanen from Suomen Latu (The Finnish Outdoor Association) shared exciting news and updates about a newly revamped road platform from Luontoon.fi that consolidates biking routes from various platforms into one place.

The day concluded with a panel discussion that allowed for further conversation on the day’s topics. One key discussion focused on the importance of coordination among different stakeholders involved in biking tourism. Biking tourism encompasses a wide range of sectors that must work together to succeed. We need to find ways to coordinate road planning and maintenance, regional brand management, and the development of sustainable business infrastructure.