Holiday village for Russian tourists to be built in Finland

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Well equipped summer cabins in the countryside with all amenities, fishing, and picking berries as well as listening to Russian programmes in the village restaurant are some of the attractions that will be available for the Russian tourists who will be holidaymaking in the Eastern town of Kitee in Finland. The purpose-built holiday village will be opened in the New Year.
      Tourists from the East have been renting cottages in Finland for a good few years now, but this is the first holiday village that will be custom-made for Russian tourists in particular.
      According to Managing Director Dimitri Moskalev of Palaus Travel, the idea to build a village of 19 bungalows in Kitee was created in cooperation with Jorma Keskimäki of the Pajarinhovi Tourist Centre.
      The town of Kitee granted the building permit and built the water and sewer system.
     
Russians living in large cities long for clean air and the peace of the countryside. They want to live in high class summer houses with all mod cons. The bungalows in Kitee are equipped with full washing and toilet facilities as well as an array of modern household appliances.
     
Recreational activities will include fishing, hiking, and boating. Also an illuminated skiing track will be available in the winter months. The village restaurant will have a Russian programme along with dancing.
      Another attraction nearby is the Kitee Animal Park at Pajarinhovi Tourist Centre, with bears and lynxes. Other venues that could be connected to the holiday village are being looked into.
      In order to avoid any language problems, even Russian employees will be hired to work in the village. According to Moskalev, Russian tourists will appreciate being served in their own language.
      According to a survey commissioned by the Finnish Tourist Board (MEK), Russian tourists made 600,000 holiday trips to Finland in 2001. The market share of Finland as the destination of Russian tourists was about 10 per cent.
     
Based on the most recent statistics, Russian tourists’ trips to Finland are increasing. However, a majority of the current visits are short shopping trips.


Links:
  The Finnish Tourist Board (MEK)

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