After our trip to Kainuu I discovered a region unknown for me. Closer to the border with Russia, an area with their own history, stories and culture. Kainuu region is trying to get more tourist through the year and the literary tourism could be a solution. The story and the places are there, ready to be used but the destination itself has lack of networking.
Kuhmo, with the reward of the UNESCO as a literary city seems to have been working well as a literary destination. Juminkeko, a cultural center focus on the Kalevala legacy, is a prove of that. Kalevala hotel is a great asset in the area and willing to collaborate with small entrepreneurs to create a broad range of activities for tourism. Kalevala Village is a lost opportunity, a thematic park focused on Kalevala that were build but seems that have no clear direction. Could be key for the region if comes back to live again. I would like to see the city and small entrepreneurs more involve with the local culture. Creating an atmosphere of literature all around the city.
In the other direction we found Kajaani, a city that does not support cultural associations that are taking care of the legacy and the history of Elias Lönnrot and Eino Leino, two of the most iconic writers in Finland. Is hard to find anything in the city that have relation with literature or Kalevala. Without the collaboration between public and private stakeholders is difficult to create a tourism destination, the work cannot be left only to the private entrepreneurs.
The region has potential, they have something different and some people is ready to share it with the world but seems that local administrations do not see the potential, not only for tourism but also for locals, especially to bring more job opportunities and motivation for young generations.
What do you think? Can Kainuu region be a top tourism destination in Finland? Can literary tourism save the day? Just comment below.