Helsinki being advertised as lively festival city

Eurovision was a stage on the path to an events-based capital

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Helsinki aspires to become a festival city worthy of international attention. Moreover, various cultural events will have a central role even in the city’s new business strategy.
      "Our goal is to become a leading event city worldwide", says Director Eero Holstila from the Economic Development Division of Helsinki’s Economic and Planning Centre. The arrangements for the recent Eurovision Song Contest offered the capital a unique opportunity to organise major ancillary events.
      Such events were arranged in the Senate Square (where tens of thousands gathered on Saturday evening), at the Narinkka Square of the new Kamppi Center, in the Esplanade Park, on the streets, and at the market squares around town. The city sank approximately EUR one million into these gatherings. In addition, part of the funding came from the budgets of the city’s various departments.
     
The purpose of the new profile is to enhance the attraction of the Finnish capital. While increasing the comfort of local residents, a lively cultural life is believed to attract more tourists, investments, and prosperity to the city.
      Efforts are being made to turn the capital’s neoclassical centre into the "Old Town" of Helsinki, which would be full of life and have numerous restaurants.
     
At the same time, Helsinki is competig for attractiveness with other Baltic cities as well as with other major cities across the world.
      In fact, some cultural figures say that Helsinki has already superceded Stockhom as the most interesting city.
      According to a recent study, a total of some 770,000 overnight visitors are expected in Helsinki in the course of the current summer season, while the corresponding figure for last year was 700,000.
      In addition, some 250,000 cruise passengers are to visit Finland’s capital this summer.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Number of tourists visiting Helsinki hit all-time high in 2006 (12.4.2007)

Helsingin Sanomat