FINLAND TOURISM ADMINISTRATIVE AND TERRITORIAL ADMINISTRATION

The responsible ministry for tourism policy is the Ministry of Employment and the Economy. It is responsible for defining the priorities of tourism policy, for the general development of tourism, and the coordination of support measures for tourism. It is also responsible for preparing legislation on tourism and maintaining international relations in the tourism sector.

The Finnish Tourist Board is a national agency under the Ministry of Employment and the Economy responsible for actively promoting Finnish tourism. The Finnish Tourist Board works closely with ministries, travel businesses, transport companies and Finnish regions. This cooperation involves research, product development and, above all, marketing of leisure tourism to Finland from abroad. Outside Finland, the Finnish Tourist Board promotes Finnish tourism using the name Visit Finland.

In addition, other organizations supporting the tourism industry development in Finland are for example Finnish Safety and Chemicals Agency (Tukes) that supervises and promotes consumer safety, Metsähallitus that manages nature conservation and hiking areas and Finpro that is a national trade, internationalization and investment development organization.

At the territorial level, there are various public authorities handling local tourism affairs, together with other tasks. In 2010, two regional state administrative bodies were established, the Regional State Administrative Agencies and the Centres for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment (ELY). These agencies foster regional parity by executing all legislative implementation, steering and supervisory functions in the regions. ELY-centres on the other hand manage the regional implementation and development tasks of the state administration, offering financing, advisory, consulting and training services for tourism companies’ business development. There is a sector manager for tourism who acts as a national expert on tourism for all ELY Centers. In additions, each ELY-centre has also a named contact person for tourism affairs. Regional Councils, as joint municipal authorities, are in charge of regional planning and they supervise the regional interests, including the development of the tourism sector.

There are also about 30 regional tourist organisations in Finland that have varied objectives, tasks and ownership structures. Locally, tourism issues are handled by municipalities and local tourist information offices.

Major associations and organizations (selection)

 Finnish Hospitality Association (called MaRa in Finnish)

• operates as a guardian for tourism related industries to and in Finland
• represents organisations such as hotels, restaurants, amusement parks, programme services
• 2400 member organizations
• representation in various working groups

 Association of tourism organisations in Finland (called SUOMA in Finnish)

• Serves as an umbrella organization for regional tourist organisations, tourist centre organisations and tourist information offices in Finland and supervises their interests with respect to central organisations in the tourist industry, state tourist administration and other organisations operating in the industry, without seeking direct financial gain or benefits for its members.
• it has 20 regional tourism organization members and 117 local tourism offices members
• presentation in various working groups

The Association of Finnish Travel Agents (AFTA, SMAL in Finnish)

• looks after the interests of tour operators and travel agencies. It is a member of ECTAA, the European Travel Agents' and Tour Operators' Associations. AFTA has more than 160 full members with some 300 offices and around 75 associate members, including airlines, shipping or land transport companies, accommodation businesses and tourism sector magazines.
• presentation in various working groups

The Finnish Ski Area Association (SHKY)

• the umbrella organisation of Finnish ski resorts, has a membership of 73 ski resorts and 47 ski schools. Members represent 99 % of the entire industry’s lift ticket turnover.
• presentation in various working groups