WP3 Proceedings NEED Conference Innovative education methods Finland 3.-6.6.2009 Part 3 Content Part 1: Wednesday 3.6.2009 Geology of Finland / Jari Nenonen Geology of the NEED Finland target area / Heikki Vesajoki WP2 workshop: summarizing Work Package 2, connecting WP2 to WP3 / Thorvardur Arnason Workshop: Environmental knowledge and experience: making the connections / Patrick Dillon Part 2: Thursday 4.6.2009 Finnish Stone Centre and Geo Knowledge Centre / Ilkka Nykänen and Leena Mustonen Origin and features of soapstone / Heikki Pirinen NEED study module for the Finnish Stone Center / Seija Juntunen Comment by The Finnish National Board of Education / Lea Houtsonen Part 3: Friday 5.6.2009 Koli as a tourist resort / Eevi Nieminen and Heikki Hamunen National parks as environmental education environments in Finland / Lasse Lovén Koli as a tourist resort: historical overwiew / Eevi Nieminen Koli as a tourist resort: nowadays / Heikki Hamunen Changing national parks - interaction between nature conservation and tourism in Finland / Riikka Puhakka NEED Study module for Koli National Park / Seija Juntunen Part 4: Saturday 6.6.2009 Summarizing WP3, results in WP3 • Ireland 1: Carol Gleeson • Ireland 2: Maria McNamara • Iceland: Thorvardur Arnason and Gulla Úlfars • Norway: Anne Kristiansen and Benny Sætermo • Finland 1: Ilkka Ratinen • Finland 2: Pekka Hynninen GIS in educational use, GIS tool / Ilkka Ratinen Feedback / Patrick Dillon KOLI AS A TOURIST RESORT Eevi Nieminen Heikki Hamunen Koli is one of the most famous landscapes in Finland. The area is situated in Northern Karelia, on the western shore of Lake Pielinen, and is known especially for its hills and a great view from hilltops. Koli was made famous by Finnish Carelianist artists who made the area as their “pilgrimage destination” in the turn of 19th and 20th century. During that time Koli became – and still is – a great part of the national identity of Finnish people. During centuries, Koli has had many different meanings to different people, representing for instance a sacred place of worship, an area of traditional slash-and-burn farming method, a nature reserve and a potential for economic development. The area also plays an important role in the history of tourism in Finland. The tourism has developed in stages since the end of 19th century towards the new ideas and challenges of today. The stage of Koli’s discovery As a tourist resort Koli was discovered thanks to the interest of Carelianist artists for Eastern Finland in the end of 19th century. In a way the stage of discovery began already in the middle of 19th century, since steamboat traffic began on the Lake Pielinen in 1869. In the turn of 19th and 20th century approximately 500 tourists visited Koli per year. Among them were nationally and also internationally known people like writer Juhani Aho, painters Eero Järnefelt and Pekka Halonen, composer Jean Sibelius and photographer I.K. Inha. However, at the time, most of the tourists came from the neighbouring area and Koli was mostly a resort for weekend trips in the summer. The tourism didn’t affect significantly on the nature, landscape, culture or regional economy of the area. The stage of commitment to tourism In the turn of 19th and 20th century, new constructions were built and evolved in Koli specifically to serve tourists and tourism. The first inn, so-called Ylämaja, was completed in 1896, the same time as the motorway from Joensuu to Koli. The core area of Koli hills became state-owned in 1907. In that time the Finnish state begun to support the tourism in the area with budget funds. The commitment to tourism showed both in the development of the service structure and the growing number of tourists. In 1924, approximately 6000 tourists were estimated to visit Koli per year, but it is probable that this number was an overestimate. The stage of fast development In the 1930’s the number of tourists increased faster than earlier. The landscape and the attractions of Koli were shaped in order to cultivate tourism: In 1937 a camping area and a slalom slope were built, and a couple of years later the first ski lift in Finland. The tourism in Koli was not any more dependent only on visitors coming from neighbouring area. More than 7000 people per year from all over the country visited Koli. The firm belief in tourism showed in the extent and quality of investments: away from the small-scale individual travelling and towards a versatile tourist attraction that serves ”the masses”. The Second World War interrupted the development of tourism. It took about 20 years before next larger investments were made. Only just in the 1950’s and 1960’s the roads were improved, the camping area was renewed and a new enlarged hotel was built. During 1970’s many plans for developing tourism and land use in Koli were made, but these ideas were never realized because of the world-wide oil crisis and economic recession. A more large-scale development project began in the 1980’s along with the economic boom in Finland. The amount of beds in Koli area was planned to be increased up to 10 000, while the number at the time was approximately 1000. The number of tourists grew rapidly. Koli’s slopes and cottages attracted over 100 000 tourists per year. The growth of tourism and the new large-scale development plans caused resistance as well: in 1989–1990, 84 000 people signed a petition to protect Koli and to establish a national park. The government approved, and Koli National Park was established in 1991. The decision froze the most ambitious development plans, and the growth of tourism stopped because of the economic recession of 1991–1992. The stage of stabilization After the establishement of the national park and the economic recession, the growth of tourism slowed down. However, the tourism still had a significant effect on the regional economy and was seen as a base of it. In the end of 1990s, Koli was redirecting the development towards emphasizing the unique nature and culture of the area as well as the sustainability of tourism. Environmental protection, respect for old traditions and cultural heritage, maintenance of nature’s diversity and the quality of customer service are Koli’s main values. The role of national park in the development of tourism in Koli area was emphasized in the beginning of the 21th century. Tourism and conservation have both been taken into account in the park’s care and management plan. The aim is to increase the number of visitors, but without jeopardizing the sustainability of the nature. Services for school groups in Koli The guidance centre of Koli National Park, Visitor Centre Ukko, was opened in 2000. Ukko’s permanent exhibition “Heritage of Koli” presents Koli’s diverse nature and cultural history. Approximately 50 000 people visit Ukko per year. Koli National Park and Visitor Centre Ukko are managed by Metsähallitus, which is a state enterprise taking care of land and water areas owned by the state of Finland. In serving visitors, Metsähallitus is assisted by a local association Friends of Ukko-Koli. The association takes care of customer service and guided tours in Visitor Centre and organizes school camp services in Koli area. There are several educational programs for the school groups in Koli. The groups can choose between 25–30 different guided programs, which are organised by several local companies and also the association Friends of Ukko-Koli. The programs involve either adventure and sports or contents of geology, history and culture. Friends of Ukko-Koli offer a school camp coordinating service which helps teachers to plan and organise a study visit or a school camp. There are many supporting services available in Koli, like accommodation, restaurant services and nature activities. In addition to the guided programs, there are four different educational trails in Koli National Park. The themes of these trails are geology, slash-and-burn agriculture, groves and forests and forest restoration and management. Travellers in Koli area today Koli can be seen as a truly Finnish holiday resort. Finnish national landscape and the importance of Koli for the Finnish culture and history make the resort special. Koli is a Finnish resort based on the number of visitors. Some 85% of the travellers who lodge in the area are Finns. International tourists come mainly from Russia, Germany and Switzerland. The proportion of Russian tourists is approximately 50% of all international tourists. The main groups to visit Koli area can be divided in four categories: 1) families and couples, 2) visitors of cultural and other events, 3) participants of meetings, educational events and scientific seminars and 4) active outdoor-lovers. Age of the visitors cannot be seen as the factor that determines who visits Koli. Rather, it is the interest in nature, outdoor activities and culture that is common for visitors in Koli. The number of overnights in North Carelia and in Koli has been approximately on the same level in the beginning of century. However, the number of overnights has varied clearly between the single years. Majority of overnights in the area is registered in the summer season (app. 60.000). The number of registered overnights in winter is approximately 30.000. The vision 2015 Today, Koli is a holiday resort and a National Park that attracts visitors above all with its nature and landscape. Koli Master Plan (2007) underlines how nature values of Koli, cultural heritage, the already existing services and events as well as the significant players and the geographic location form an excellent basis for Koli resort to develop one of the most attractive holiday resorts in Finland.