Invest in Finland

Dutch travel companies to launch cruises in Finland’s lakeland region

30/01/2012

The newly formed company Saimaa Lake Cruises will start 4-9 day cruises in the Saimaa Lakeland region in eastern Finland next year with a 100 berth ship based in Savonlinna. According to Cor Giljam, managing director of Adelle Cruises, one of the two Dutch travel companies behind the new company, the cruise destinations will include Lappeenranta, Kuopio, Joensuu and Nurmes. The full-board cruises will start in May and continue until October, making the most of Finland’s changing seasons.

In addition to Finland, Saimaa will also be marketed in Russia, Germany, the Netherlands, France and Britain. “Many of our customers, especially companies, are always looking for new destinations,” says Giljam. “We can offer our customers a unique, high quality product in Saimaa together with our local partners.” Adelle Cruises has more than 40 years of experience in organising cruises on the inland waterways of Europe.

The Dutch companies discovered the business potential of Saimaa, Europe’s fourth largest lake district, through the Savonlinna Region Centre of Expertise which helps tourism and experience management businesses to build joint products centred around lake and nature tourism. Pellervo Kokkonen, director of the centre, believes that the new cruise business will play an important role in making Saimaa known in Central Europe. The centre assisted the Dutch companies by producing research about possible destinations and route alternative in Saimaa, and by mapping out networking opportunities with Finnish travel companies.

Sources: Helsingin Sanomat, Savonlinna Region Centre of Expertise