Carpooling to the Karelian villages
- responsible tourism development project
The accessibility of North Karelia's magnificent nature destinations and businesses without a car is poor, and particularly poor during the busy summer season. On the other hand, traveling alone or in pairs with your own car is unsustainable from the perspective of responsible tourism.
There is a clear need for a responsible way to get there and move between destinations and businesses. What can be done? In the Carpooling to Karelia project, we are developing the REISSUKYYTI online application, which is designed to meet the needs of tourists and allows tourists and locals to share rides with each other.
The project targets national parks (Koli, Kolovesi, Patvinsuo, Petkeljärvi, and Tiilikkajärvi) and tourism companies and events located in sparsely populated rural areas. All municipalities in the province are also involved with their own pages.
The Reissukyyti app was tested in May and its first version was released in early June. The service will be tested and search functions, among other things, will be developed throughout the summer. The app has been advertised in local newspapers and on social media. Click and try it for yourself:
Reissukyyti is presented in a promotional video featuring traveler Kaisa, regional director Markus Hirvonen, and association chair Anton Sutinen:
Objectives
More tourism entrepreneurs sharing rides
Tourism entrepreneurs are encouraged to cooperate when picking up customers from places such as train stations.
Promotes ride sharing among travelers
The Reissukyyti platform also helps travelers share rides either from home or at their destination.
Reduce fuel costs for your own car
Carpooling reduces fuel costs and makes it possible to live and travel in sparsely populated areas.
Create a sustainable business model for the service
Calculate the maintenance and communication costs of the Reissukyyti service and develop a model to cover the costs.
Promote the Reissukyyti service
Let's promote the service and experiences gained from its development elsewhere in Finland.
Measures
Tourists and local residents are encouraged to use and develop the Reissukyyti service in cooperation with municipalities, associations, and tourism companies. Important partners include Pohjois-Karjalan Kylät ry (North Karelia Villages Association) and Metsähallitus (Finnish Forest Administration). The service is being promoted nationwide in cooperation with Suomen Kylät ry (Finnish Villages Association).
TRANSPORTATION NEEDS ASSESSMENT AND SURVEYS
Identify current modes of transportation and opportunities for visiting national parks and companies participating in the project. Conduct a survey on needs and preferences.
ACTIVATING TOURISM COMPANIES
Tourism entrepreneurs operating in sparsely populated areas and acting responsibly are invited to participate in the project. The service will be developed and tested in collaboration with the companies.
ACTIVATING LOCALS
Inform local residents about the project's objectives and encourage them to participate in developing the service. Organize regional workshops.
DEVELOPING THE BUSINESS MODEL
During the project, the costs of maintaining, developing, and communicating the Reissukyyti service will be calculated. A cost-effective model for financing the operation will be developed.
ACTIVATING TOURISTS AND SURVEYS
Find out how much carpooling is already used in tourism. Conduct surveys in social media groups about needs and wishes regarding the Reissukyyti service.
SCALING THE SERVICE
Get in touch with us!
The project is being implemented by Pohjois-Karjalan Matkailu ry. An important partner is CoReorient Oy, whose idea and experience in developing carpooling led to the creation of the project.
Project office:
Science Park/3A/Coworking space, Länsikatu 15, 80110 Joensuu
Anton is the chairman of Pohjois-Karjalan Matkailu ry (North Karelia Tourism Association), born an entrepreneur and raised in the tourism industry. He manages the project on behalf of the association and participates in communications.
Anton Sutinen
hankevastaava
p. 050 305 1120
anton.sutinen@gmail.com
Marja is a traveling world improver and developer of responsible tourism. She is responsible for communications, surveys, events, and cooperation with various parties in North Karelia.
Marja Tiittanen
projektipäällikkö
p. 050 598 3290
marja.tiittanen@pohjoiskarjalaan.fi
Tarja is an active member of her village community and an enthusiastic home gardener who is looking for a new career in tourism. Tarja is conducting surveys for village associations and promoting the Reissukyyti service on social media from February 1 to April 30.
Tarja Hiltunen
työharjoittelija
p. 041 312 1651
Project funding
The Government has established a parliamentary working group on sparsely populated areas (HAMA) to improve opportunities in sparsely populated areas in Finland. The working group has allocated EUR 3 million in support for nature, food, fishing and hunting tourism projects in HAMA areas, emphasizing the guidelines of Finland's Tourism Strategy 2022-2028 and Finland's Food Tourism Strategy 2020-2023, as well as Visit Finland's food tourism product recommendations.
As the state aid authority, the Lapland Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment has granted aid to the North Karelia Tourism Association's Kimppakyydillä Karjalan kunnille (Carpooling to the Karelian municipalities) project. The project will run from December 1, 2022, to September 30, 2023.
Below is a link to the Lapland ELY Centre's website, which provides information on funding and a map showing sparsely populated areas:
