Tampere, a city in Finland, is focusing on becoming a sustainable travel destination. The city aims to attract tourists who are environmentally conscious and looking to make greener holiday choices. Tampere is part of the growing trend among Finnish cities marketing themselves as eco-friendly destinations. This shift is likely in response to the increasing popularity of Scandinavian destinations as alternatives to traditional Southern European options. Tampere has seen an increase in overnight stays, with 1.1 million arrivals in 2023, representing an 8% increase from the previous year.
Despite Tampere’s efforts to reduce emissions, the Finnish tourism sector still has a long way to go. Greenhouse gas emissions in the city have decreased by 34% since 1990, and 62% of its energy production is renewable. However, the tourism sector is still in the early stages of implementing sustainability measures. Key actions to reduce emissions in Tampere include building tramlines, improving public transportation, enhancing infrastructure for walking and cycling, and adopting carbon-neutral heating. Visit Tampere is working with major operators in the area, such as amusement parks, hotels, and event venues, to reduce emissions and promote sustainability.
Other Finnish cities, such as Helsinki and Lahti, are also emphasizing sustainability as part of their image. Helsinki, the capital city, has committed to promoting sustainability education among tourism providers and transitioning to entirely renewable energy sources by 2026. The Global Destination Sustainability Index ranked Helsinki as the fourth most sustainable tourist destination in the world in 2023. Lahti, known for winter sports, has taken steps to reduce emissions by eliminating coal usage in its power plant, installing bike lanes and repair stations, transitioning to electric buses, and implementing an urban ski-sharing program.
However, the sustainability efforts of Finnish cities face challenges, particularly in transportation. A report by the City of Helsinki found that the greenhouse gas intensity of the Finnish tourism sector is 80% higher than the EU average. This is largely due to flights, building energy consumption, and the long distances people have to drive to get around Finland. While air travel contributes the most to tourism-related emissions, 20% of the country’s total emissions come from transportation, with 85% of that from private or individual transportation. Experts say that persuading Finns to move away from private cars towards more sustainable transportation options, such as walking, cycling, and electric vehicles, will be a significant challenge.
In conclusion, Finnish cities like Tampere are making efforts to promote sustainability in their tourism sectors but face obstacles in reducing emissions, particularly in transportation. While progress has been made in areas such as renewable energy production and infrastructure improvements, more substantial changes are needed to achieve carbon neutrality. By collaborating with major operators and implementing measures like building tramlines and promoting walking and cycling, Finnish cities are working towards sustainable tourism. However, addressing the high greenhouse gas intensity of the tourism sector and reducing reliance on private cars remain significant challenges that will require innovative solutions and widespread behavior change.
