At the end of February, six Finnish cities and regional tourism organizations participated in route fairs in Poland, where they negotiated the introduction of direct flights from Central Europe to regional airports. Marja Aalto, a specialist in air traffic from Business Tampere, emphasized that as airlines acquire new aircraft and the European economy is expected to improve, there will be an increase in tourism. This is particularly important for Eastern Finland, where the hoped-for travelers from Central Europe may compensate for the absence of Russian tourists, boosting local economies.

Cities are eager to establish flight connections that benefit both tourists and local export businesses. The new routes aim to ensure that approximately 70% of travelers will be leisure tourists, with the remainder being business travelers. To attract business travelers, good onward connections across Europe will be essential, as noted by Jukka Himanen, the CEO of Lappeenranta Airport. He mentioned that negotiations are underway for flights to Riga, Stockholm, Copenhagen, and Tallinn, with hopes that flights could start in the near future.

The initiative highlights the collaborative effort among Finnish regions to increase their accessibility for international travelers. The focus on establishing direct connections not only aims to support the tourism sector but also to enhance the economic potential of local businesses reliant on international trade. If successful, these efforts could foster a more vibrant travel landscape, encouraging not only tourism but also economic development through enhanced connectivity to key markets.