Opportunities Today :- September 2005 Issue

Interview with Taina Tornstrom - Director Sales Spain and Portugal Finnair 

 

Taina is the Director Sales for the Spain and Portugal territory for FINNAIR - the official carrier of FINLAND. Taina was recently in India to explore the possibilities of having direct flights from India into Finland and our Editor Subhash Motwani spoke to Taina about one of the world's oldest operating airlines as well as about Finland including Lapland - the land of Santa Claus. Taina also spoke about the phenomena of “Aurora Borealis” and why it attracts several tourists from places as far as Japan. Read on to know more about the Journey to the Top of the World as well as the official carrier of Santa Claus-FINNAIR. 

What is the purpose of visiting India?
The purpose is to study the Indian market as Finland is interested in opening a route to India from Helsinki.


What do you see is the potential of travellers from India into Finland?
The numbers are not too many. In fact, we don't even have the numbers but as the tourism in India is opening up, we see a very strong potential and therefore this trip to India to assess the market. I am sure there are Indians coming in from Schengen area or visiting Finland whilst visiting other Scandinavian countries. Hence, it is difficult to get the exact number of Indian travellers as they may be entering Finland from other European countries. The positive side is that when I spoke to the Consulate out here I got to know that there is a visa application to Finland almost every day of the week. So there are people who are looking to travel from India to Finland.


With the potential of increasing tourism, are there any plans of Finnair starting its flights into India?
There are plans to start flights either from Delhi or from Mumbai. As of now Delhi seems to be the more likely of the two as the flying time is shorter by about 50 minutes. However, we are interested in Mumbai as well as Mumbai is the commercial capital of India. We are looking at both the options and the initial plans would be to start from either one of these cities and have flights thrice a week going into Helsinki. 


We are looking at October 2006 if not earlier as we have to get the papers ready and get approvals from the relevant authorities here in India including the Ministry. The flights from Mumbai to Helsinki would be of 8 hours and 50 minutes whereas from Helsinki into Mumbai it would be one hour less i.e. 7 hours and 50 minutes. 

 

What will be the advantage for the Indian traveller to travel on Finnair?
Finnair will have the fastest connections to north of Europe which includes connections from Helsinki to Germany, Brussels as well as Moscow, St. Petersburg and London. We also fly non-stop daily across the Atlantic to New York.


There have been a record number of passengers from India to Europe this year. Coming to Finland, what are the attractions that would appeal the Indian traveller who wishes to explore new destinations ?
Finland in winter and Finland in summer are two different countries although I would expect more leisure travellers coming into Finland in summer especially from India as it coincides with their summer holidays out here. I am sure the travellers from here would like to combine Finland with other parts of Scandinavia or the northern part of Europe. In Finland, one can start from Helsinki - the capital of Finland and from Finland one can take a visa free cruise to Saint Petersburg which is a very new development since last year. There are luxury ferries to Stockholm for overnight cruises. You can also visit the Baltic States by boat. Then there is the area of the thousand lakes where there are over 100000 lakes and also Lapland - the home of Santa Claus. You can even continue further north to Norway from where you can reach the Arctic Ocean. You can take a flight to Rovaniemi - the capital of Lapland to go further north. Finland is 1200 kilometres long - so it is a big country yet sparsely populated with only 5.2 million inhabitants. Finland is mostly known for its natural beauty. The water from the lakes is clean and potable, most of the country is covered with forests So in Finland, its mainly nature and nature related activities and it is a paradise for nature lovers.

What about Finland being known as the Land of the Midnight Sun?
This is something I forgot to mention. Finland is in the Arctic Circle and as a result the days are extremely long in summer and around 20th June onwards is when the sun does not set at all and you have sunlight for the entire 24 hours of the day. So you can read a book all night without switching on the light. This unique phenomenon is more apparent up north near Rovaniemi where Santa Claus lives and here it lasts much longer as it is closer to the Arctic. So to have a feel of the Midnight Sun you should spend a few days in summer in Lapland. For a first time traveller, it is important to spend atleast 5 days to cover Finland and if you add Sweden and Norway to see the fjords then it should be atleast 14 days. You can from the Northern part of Finland take the famous boat to Norway going down to Bergen. This trip takes the whole week but it is a very unique experience. 

From where does Finland get its largest segment of travellers?
The largest number of travellers are from Europe, especially from Russia and Sweden as well as the other Scandinavian countries i.e. Norway and Denmark as they are in close proximity to Finland. Germany too is a big market and Spain as well as Italy markets are also growing very rapidly. And these tourists come to Finland throughout the year. From Asia we have lots of Japanese tourists coming especially in winter to experience the “Aurora Borealis” or the Northern Lights. 

What exactly is the “Aurora Borealis?”
“Aurora Borealis” is a phenomenon caused by solar winds passing through the atmosphere at the magnetic North Pole. Particles hit elements at high speed, causing an eerie hazy effect across the night sky. The colour of the Northern Lights depends on the element that is being hit, and lasts for about 5-10 minutes during winter nights. During this time one can enjoy the snow related activities - one can go on the snow mobile safaris, you can go on the husky dogs safaris, you can visit the reindeer farms, you can go skiing if you want. During the winter, the days are extremely short- exactly opposite of the summer months. Up in the north, its darkness throughout in the winter months, just as you have daylight throughout the summer months. 


Aurora Borealis is something very mystical where you see these Northern Lights in the Northern Sky and people from Japan especially believe that if you see the Aurora Borealis, you are a very lucky person. That's one of the reasons why we have so many Japanese tourists in winter. It is said that the Northern lights have been around since Earth formed an atmosphere-the dinosaurs saw it, early humans saw it and our descendants will see it. It is one of the most fascinating sights and people cross continents to see the occurrence of this natural wonder. 

Besides Japan what are the other places that you fly to in Asia?
In all Finnair flies to 8 cities in Asia which includes 4 cities in China - Guangzhou, Hong Kong, Shanghai and Beijing. We also fly to Osaka, Tokyo, Bangkok and Singapore. 

You are the Director Sales for Finnair for the Spain and Portugal territory, what has been your overall experience in promoting Finnair and Finland in this region?
I have been handling the Spain and Portugal market since the last 2 years and it has been a wonderful experience and it feels good to see that the tourism from this region to Finland is growing all the time. We have seen a 45% growth this year compared to last year and they would go to Finland for the same reason that the Indians would travel - to see Santa Claus, to visit the lakes in the summer time. They fly and drive and they hire a cottage for a week, they drive around and in the winter they go to Lapland to see Santa Claus. As mentioned earlier, Finland is a year round destination and Christmas is really big with additional flights from all across Europe into Rovaniemi.

How long have you been in the Airline Industry?
I joined the industry almost 20 years ago as a Management trainee and I have been with FINNAIR in various departments and it has been a good learning experience. 

Is this your first trip to India?
I was in India almost 10 years ago during which time I remember visiting Goa and I stayed at the Taj Mahal Hotel in Mumbai. This is my second visit to India and I am carrying with me lots of positives from this visit and surprisingly I found out that the people in India know their geography and know quite a lot about Finland. 

Lastly, what is your message to those who wish to visit Finland?
Finland is not a country of big monuments - it's about nature, especially for people living in big cities it will bring you closer to nature and remind you the importance of clean air and clean water. The people are very friendly and we would be glad to welcome visitors to Finland and look at the tourists traffic growing to the land of Santa Claus.

Meet SANTA CLAUS, book with COMPACT TRAVELS for the coming winter - customized holidays especially for you through the 8 days ARTIC CIRCLE LAPLAND ROUTE…

The tour combines the winter pleasures of Lapland with the ample opportunities for sightseeing, fine dining and shopping that the capital city Helsinki offers. Rovaniemi, a town at the Arctic Circle, is home to Santa Claus, who has his own workshop village there. A range of optional snowmobile safaris are available at extra cost in Rovaniemi.

Duration - 7 Nights / 8 days (ex-Helsinki) from Rs. 42999 pp

Tour Includes

• Accommodation in twin-bedded rooms with bath or shower including breakfast, 5 nights at Sokos Hotel Vaakuna or similar in Rovaniemi, 2 nights at Sokos Hotel Helsinki or similar in Helsinki
• Airport transfers by private car in Helsinki and Rovaniemi

NOTE!
This is a non-escorted tour. Services of a guide, optional tours, and air fares are not included in the price. A minimum of two (2) passengers are required for the tour to be operated.

TOUR ITINERARY

Day 1: Santa's Home Town
Connect to Rovaniemi directly from your international flight into Finland. Late arrival in Rovaniemi, transfer from the airport to hotel.


Days 2-5: Arctic Adventures. Enjoy the fun of driving a snowmobile in the northern wilderness, selecting the excursions of your choice. Optional Safaris Available in Rovaniemi. The safari leader will pick up you from your hotel in Rovaniemi. You will be provided with appropriate protective clothing. There will be two persons to a snowmobile taking turns in driving. Minimum age of 15 years is required for driving a snowmobile. 

Choose from the following safaris, which are operated daily:

A. Snowmobile Safari into the Wilderness
You will learn the art of driving a snowmobile, as you travel along frozen rivers and through forests covered with snow. Hot beverages are served during a break.
Duration : 2 hours 

B. Safari to a Reindeer Farm
An exhilarating safari on snowmobiles to a reindeer farm, where you will see traditional Lapp dwellings. You will also be initiated into the Lapp culture by a native family. A reindeer driving test will add to the excitement. If you pass the test, you will receive a valid reindeer driver's licence. Hot berry juice is served around a campfire.
Duration : 3 hours

C. Safari to a Husky Dog Farm
Drive by snowmobile to the hilltop to enjoy the Lapp scenery. Continue to a local husky dog farm, where the hosts will tell you about the training of the dogs. Attempt a ride in a sledge pulled by a team of huskies, which is sure to be a thrilling experience. Hot coffee is served around a campfire on the farm.
Duration: 3 hours

Santa Claus Safari
You will ride by snowmobile to a reindeer farm, where you will experience a special Lapp ceremony of crossing of the Arctic Circle. You will also take part in a reindeer driving test and have a cup of coffee, sitting around a campfire. Lunch is served at a cosy restaurant with a rustic atmosphere. Continue to the Arctic Circle to meet Santa Claus in his workshop village. Some time is allowed for souvenir shopping in the gift shops. Part of the transportation is by car.

Duration: 6 hours 

Day 6: Good-bye to Rovaniemi
Transfer to Rovaniemi airport for the return flight to Helsinki. Upon arrival in Helsinki, your driver will take you to your hotel.

Day 7: Helsinki Experience
The day is free for you to explore the sights on your own, to make some souvenir shopping or to visit a museum.

Day 8: Homeward-bound
Transfer to Helsinki airport for your flight back home. 

An insight into FINLAND

HELSINKI - the capital city. 
The capital city boasts an abundance of cultural attractions and architectural gems. Many of the city's historically interesting sights date from the beginning of the 19th century, when the neo-classic administrative centre was built around the Senate Square and the Cathedral. The Opera House and the Kiasma Museum of Contemporary Art are examples of recent architectural trends, as is the Temppeliaukio Church, hewn from a hole in the solid rock. Helsinki was founded by Sweden's King Gustavus Vasa in 1550. Czar Alexander declared it the capital of the Grand Duchy of Finland in 1812. Helsinki also hosted the first post-war Olympic Games in 1952 which was held after the Second World War and quite recently between 6th and 14th August 2005, Helsinki hosted the 10th IAAF World Championship in Athletics - the biggest sporting event in the world to be held in 2005. 


Situated on the Gulf of Finland, Helsinki is a city dominated by the sea. Some of the most popular attractions and finest dinner venues are located on the beautiful islands lying off the shoreline. The sea fortress of Suomenlinna is one such site. 

ROVANIEMI - the capital of LAPLAND
The Christmas spirit is very much present in the capital of Finnish Lapland all year round. Santa Claus has his workshop right on the Arctic Circle, where he meets visitors every day of the year. Not far from his village is Santapark - a unique underground Christmas theme park. Surrounded by the vast Lapp wilderness, Rovaniemi offers great opportunities for exciting outdoor activities for groups and individuals alike. In winter, there is no better way to explore the snow-clad landscapes than by snowmobile or in a sledge pulled by huskies. 


A ride in a reindeer sleigh is a memorable experience for anyone. The Midnight Sun can be seen in Rovaniemi at the height of the summer. One of the key attractions is the Arktikum Building housing the Arctic Centre and the Regional Museum of Lapland. Rovaniemi is just one hour flight from Helsinki.

ABOUT FINNAIR
Finnair is one of the world's oldest operating airlines and was established on 1st November, 1923. In 2004, Finnair carried over 8 million passengers. 

Finnair has 58.4% ownership of the Finnish government and has over 9500 people working in with the Finnair group. Finnair covers over 50 international destinations with long haul routes to New York in North America and Bangkok, Beijing, Hong Kong, Osaka, Shanghai, Singapore and Tokyo in Asia. 

Finnair flies to 16 destinations within Finland. The domestic route network is one of the densest in the world in relation to its population. 
In addition to regular scheduled traffic Finnair operates leisure flights to more than 60 destinations. Leisure traffic flies mainly to holiday resorts in the Mediterranean, the Canary Islands, South-East Asia as well in the Caribbean and South America. 

Finnair is part of the oneworld alliance The first of the global alliances to enable customers to book and pay for flights on its member airlines through its alliance website.