Cultural tourism strategy

Ikaalinen Got Its Own Cultural Tourism Strategy

There is power in cooperation! And more well-being, vitality and recognition

Anne Spårman-Sievola, project manager for the Ihastu Ikaalisin! project of the development company Ikaalisten kylpyläkaupunki Oy, presented the city's new cultural tourism strategy at the spa on Thursday, February 22, 2024. It will serve as an important guideline in the future as the various actors in the area productize services, strengthen international cooperation and develop communications in closer cooperation with each other..

The main goal of the project has been to promote the vitality of the city, increase entrepreneurship in the creative industries, and develop product packages to bring new cultural tourism revenue to Ikaalinen companies and the region.

• Events as a whole play a significant role as an attraction factor for both city residents and tourists, Anne Spårman-Sievola says.
• So much so that Ikaalinen's tourism revenue per capita is the highest in Pirkanmaa – more than in Tampere! Now, efforts are being made to utilize the synergy benefits of cultural and event industry actors more systematically through strategy, recent research results, and closer cooperation between different actors.

The focus areas for cultural tourism work were selected based on the survey responses as the development of nature tourism and event production, the diversification and development of the region's cultural destinations, and the development of communications and networking. These activities will increase the year-round nature of cultural tourism in the region, the networking of regional actors, and digital marketing and visibility.

Communities, associations, companies, students and educational institutions were invited to participate in the strategy work. There were about a hundred participants, and work on the project was carried out from the summer of 2023 to early 2024. The project received funding from the Pirkanmaa Regional Council's Supporting Sustainable Growth and Vitality of Regions allocation. 

Anne Spårman-Sievola has created Ikaalinen's cultural tourism strategy. Photo: Ikaalinen Photographic Studio, Viivi Hautamäki

Ikaalinen Cultural Tourism Strategy 2024 – 2029.pdf

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