The majority of Finnish citizens can get the COVID-19 certificate easily from My Kanta Pages. However, still last week, some certificates of recovery were not produced, but the situation is now significantly better due to technical updates. In July, a total of 420 400 people have retrieved the EU Digital COVID Certificate from My Kanta Pages.

Whether you are planning a vacation or a staycation, be sure to practice sound holiday hygiene

Summer is finally here. Tourist spots are opening up and the school year is drawing to a close.  As the vaccination programs proceed and countries “turn green” one after each other, airlines and tour operators are rebooting their activities. One thing is certain: the travel industry will never be the same.

Picture from Matka Nordic Travel Fair 2020 - Messukeskus

The largest travel fair in Northern Europe, Matka Nordic Travel Fair is rescheduled to January 2022 due to the prolonged Corona situation and authorities’ restrictions. Despite of this, the travel industry is still anticipating the future with hope. To support the rapid recovery of the industry, Matka Workshop Day for professionals will be organised as a virtual event on 20 May 2021.

Beach chairs at the popular Cypriot resort town of Ayia Napa (Image: Lehtikuva)

THE GOVERNMENT OF CYPRUS HAS REVEALED plans to open up the country to leisure travelers from Finland without restriction from tomorrow.

St. Petersburg is Russia's second-largest city with a population of over five million people. Still, almost everything you want to see is located in a comfortable distance from each other at the historical centre. 

The city was built by Peter The Great in 1703 - right after it was conquered back from the Swedes. Peter, who grew up in Moscow and disliked his hometown, wanted to build a European style town in Russia. He was the first Russian Tsar to travel to Europe, spending over two years travelling around with his entourage.

A Viking reenactor plays the Nordic bagpipe

Tourism in Helsinki has never been as central to its local economy as it is right now. In 2017, the number of overnight stays in Helsinki shot up by 13%, crossing the four-million barrier for the first time in history, and overnight stays in the wider Helsinki region crossing 5.3 million. 

It’s stunning growth, but its source remains somewhat elusive. 

Finnish people are eschewing foreign holidays at an unprecedented rate, with last year showing a record increase in domestic tourism bookings, amidst a decline in the number of international trips. A number of reasons have been attributed to this emerging trend, including rising travel costs, environmental concerns, and a general revival of interest in local culture.

Benny Smeds is a fascinating individual, out to “spread the love” and help everyone he encounters. That's fortunate, as those traits lend themselves to his line of work as a life coach and as founder and CEO of VIP Finland, a luxury destination management and concierge service.

Born just outside Helsinki, Smeds went on to find himself abroad, everywhere from California to Switzerland, the latter being where he studied BBA and Hospitality Management at the Hotel Institute Montreux. Back in Finland, he set up his destination management company.

How airlines price their tickets is a source of many myths and urban legends. These include tips about the best day of the week to buy a ticket, last-minute discounts offered by the airlines, and the conspiracy theories suggesting that the carriers use cookies to increase prices for their passengers. None of these is entirely true.