The Finnish Travel Quality Award was presented for the fifth time this January at the Nordic Travel Fair “Matka” 2010. This year’s award was won by the City of Helsinki for the high quality and continuous development of its operations. The jury praised Helsinki especially for its efforts in promoting an image of “Helsinki of the People”. Special acknowledgement was also given for its exemplary handling of major events, for its unique ideas, for employing the darkness to promote winter tourism, for improving services, and for providing highly trained and customer friendly Helsinki Help tourist advisors.

The purpose of the Finnish Travel Quality Award is to encourage the travel industry to develop higher quality content, as well as products and services that create genuine experiences for visitors. The Helsinki City Economic Development Unit is allocating the prize money of 5000 euros to develop the Design District.

“Helsinki has been designated World Design Capital 2012. Subsequently, design will be highlighted over the coming years, particularly to promote tourism. It is vital to the city that Helsinki can offer a wide range of diverse and interesting destinations for visitors interested in design. Design District Helsinki is an excellent example of a network of design entrepreneurs who are working together to create an entire city district oriented towards design,” comments Eero Holstila, Director Economic Development.

The fifth annual Finnish Travel Quality Awards were hosted by Finland’s Travel Bureau SMT, Gloria-magazines and the Finnish Fair Corporation. Each year a jury of travel professionals selects the nominees, from which a well-travelled public figure selects the winner. This year’s visitor to the jury was the popular retired television news anchor Eva Polttila.

Best regards,

Helsinki City Economic Development Unit

Tourist & Convention Bureau

Laura Itävaara, Communications Manager

e-mail: laura.itavaara@hel.fi, tel. +358 (0)9 310 36336

www.visithelsinki.fi