Shawati' Issue 58

58 شواطئ

99

98

Shawati’ 58

Despite its small population, how did Sotkamo become one of the most significant municipalities in Kainuu, welcoming a million tourists per year? How has Sotkamo contributed to the influence, attractiveness and reputation of Finland on the global stage? Tourism began here in the 1940s. The big turning point was in the 1990s when the Holiday Club in Katinkulta started and tourist numbers really started to grow. High-quality accommodation options and good services have brought more tourists all the time. Sotkamo has developed a good image of Finland by offering international visitors an interesting tourist destination where they can enjoy and relax. Enjoy nature or alternatively exercise in the same environments where Olympic athletes train, without forgetting local food culture or the opportunity to see the Northern Lights. Sotkamo is an excellent showcase for Finland and Finns. How has the Covid-19 pandemic impacted Sotkamo’s economy, particularly in terms of tourism, and what is your long-term strategy for the future? Sotkamo and tourism in the area have survived the Covid-19 pandemic well. The absence of foreign tourists has been compensated by Finnish tourists. In the first four months of 2021, Sotkamo had the most overnight tourist stays in the whole country! Even during Covid-19, new records have been set for many months. New tourism investments have been launched in 2020 and by 2021 and we are ready to warmly welcome international guests when the Covid-19 situation allows. We will seek the growth of tourism from international guests and we will do our best to make them feel comfortable here in the future also. .

Farmer’s Market in Sotkamo. © Vuokatti.fi / Vuokatin Kuvapankki.

The Finnhorse, Kajawood, Kainuu, Finland. © Juho Lipponen.

Winter in Kajawood, Kainuu, Finland. © Juho Lipponen.

علــى اقتصــاد 19- كيــف أثــرت جائحــة كوفيــد سـوتكامو، وخاصـة علـى صعيـد السـياحة، ومـا اســتراتيجيتكم المســتقبلية طويلــة الأجــل؟ أ بلــت ســوتكامو وا لســياحة فــي ا لمنطقــة . فعــوّض 19- بــلاءً حســناً فــي ظــل جائحــة كوفيــد الســياح الفنلنديــون غيــاب الســياح الأجانــب. وحـــــظيــــــت سوتـــكـــامـــــــو، فــــي الأشــــهـــــــر الأربعــة ، بأكبــر عــدد مــن الحجــوزات 2021 الأولــى مــن الســياحية فــي البلــد بأســره! وحتــى إبــان جائحــة ، سُــجلت أرقــام قياســية جديــدة لعــدة 19- كوفيــد أشــهر. فأطلقــت اســتثمارات ســياحية جديــدة فــي مسـتعدين للترحيب 2021 ، وأصبحنا بحلول 2020 الحــار بالضــيــــــوف الدولــيــيـــــن عــنـدمـــا يسمــــح بذلـك. لـن ندخـر جهـداً فـي سـبيل 19- وضـع كوفيـد تنمية السياحة عن طريق الزوار الدوليين، وسنبذل قصــارى جهدنــا لمنحهــم الشــعور بالراحــة هنــا فــي . المسـتقبل أيضـاً.

winner of the Beijing Winter Olympics Iivo Niskanen, silver medallists Kerttu Niskanen and Joni Mäki and bronze medallist Krista Pärmäkoski graduated from Sotkamo-Vuokatti Sport School! Our training centre offers the most diverse training facilities and conditions in the Nordic countries for winter sports. The new Vuokatti Arena with two ice rinks opened in 2021. Vuokatti’s varied terrain and natural height differences guarantee a challenge for every workout. Our 150-kilometre trail network includes both gruelling racetracks and easier runs for restorative workouts. The Olympiakatti [FIS] slope and halfpipe meet the Olympic criteria. The most famous Finnish snowboarders such as Rene Rinnekangas, Enni Rukajärvi, Peetu Piiroinen and Markus Malin have been training on these exact slopes and graduated from Sotkamo Sport School. The Sports Technology Unit of the University of Jyväskylä Sport & Health Science faculty is located in Vuokatti. The Vuokatti Sport Test Centre offers a wide range of services for monitoring developments. Our services include both traditional endurance tests and anaerobic capacity tests. In addition, the Test Centre also offers muscle fitness tests, equipment tests and in body measurements.

An icy winter scene in Sotkamo, Finland. © Vuokatti.fi / Vuokatin Kuvapankki.

Made with FlippingBook Online newsletter maker