Tourism development in the Savonlinna region is moving forward with a clear and long-term focus on international markets, product development and sustainable growth. Over recent years, Lake Saimaa has steadily increased its international visibility, and current development work is focused on turning this interest into lasting cooperation, high-quality experiences and new opportunities for travel trade and partners.
The Lake Saimaa 2.0 project is now approaching its final phase. With an extension granted, purchased services will continue until the end of February 2026, allowing ongoing activities to be completed and ensuring that the internationalisation work carried out so far transitions smoothly into new development frameworks.
At the same time, a new initiative, Saimaa Horizon 2030 – Invest & Grow, has been launched to continue and strengthen the international positioning of the Lake Saimaa region. The project is led by the Mikkeli Development Company Miksei Ltd, with Savonlinna Region Tourism Ltd as a co-implementer together with partners from the Varkaus area. Running during 2026–2027, the project has a total budget of €1.5 million, primarily funded by the European Union and the Regional Council of South Savo.
At its core, Saimaa Horizon focuses on continuing and deepening international market work: strengthening awareness of Lake Saimaa, consolidating already opened source markets and developing new ones in close cooperation with Visit Finland and regional partners. The aim is to ensure that growing international interest in Saimaa develops into long-term, structured market presence and concrete business opportunities.
As a complementary new element, the project also places increased emphasis on growth and investment readiness. Tourism businesses are supported in further developing their products, strengthening their capacity for growth and improving readiness for future investments. This approach links international visibility more closely with the long-term development and competitiveness of the destination.
International development work is also carried out in parallel through the New Nordic – Exploring the New Tourism Possibilities project, implemented in cooperation with Savonlinna Development Services. This project focuses on new Nordic tourism concepts, sustainability and experiential travel, with particular attention to the Japanese and US markets. The aim is to develop and pilot new products and operating models, strengthen companies’ international expertise and open doors to new opportunities in selected long-haul markets.
Together, these initiatives reflect a destination that is not only gaining international attention, but is also actively investing in quality, collaboration and long-term development – creating a strong and reliable partner for international travel trade and media alike.
If you are interested in collaborating with us in developing tourism in the Lake Saimaa region, we would be happy to hear from you. Please feel free to get in touch to explore potential cooperation opportunities.
