{"id":1456,"date":"2025-01-16T13:30:00","date_gmt":"2025-01-16T11:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dmo.vuokatti.fi\/?p=1456"},"modified":"2025-09-16T10:04:24","modified_gmt":"2025-09-16T07:04:24","slug":"significant-tourism-investments-are-planned-in-vuokatti","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dmo.vuokatti.fi\/en\/significant-tourism-investments-are-planned-in-vuokatti\/","title":{"rendered":"Significant tourism investments are planned in Vuokatti"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The future vision, concept and regional plan created for the Vuokatti Ski Resort area were announced today, January 16, 2025, at the Matka Travel Fair in Helsinki. If implemented, it will be one of the most significant tourism investments in Finland in the coming years.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The goal is to develop Vuokatti into one of the most attractive tourist areas in Finland and a new competitive advantage for sustainable international nature and leisure tourism to Finland. The vision lasts until 2040. The plan includes approximately 230,000 square meters of building rights and approximately 690 million euros in investments in the development of the slope areas, hotels, cottage accommodation, restaurants and services by 2040.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

– We have a unique and attractive year-round tourist destination, with many untapped opportunities on its slopes and in its services. We believe that Vuokatti will be one of the most interesting topics in the tourism industry in Finland in the coming years, says Mr. Mika Kilpel\u00e4inen<\/strong>, Mayor of Sotkamo and Chairman of Vuokatti Tourism Ltd.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

– Future Vuokatti will offer sustainable nature experiences and high-quality and diverse services for both domestic and international guests. In the future, the slopes may also be accessible by train. If a rail connection from the city of Joensuu and the city of Oulu to Vuokatti is opened, the station would be in the immediate vicinity of the slopes, allowing you to walk from the train directly to the slopes in your ski boots. This would be unique in Finland. We will strengthen the position of Vuokatti and the entire Kainuu region (Arctic Lakeland Finland) as one of the best-known and most attractive tourist areas, continues Kilpel\u00e4inen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The concept plan for the Vuokatti Ski Resort area has been prepared with EU co-financing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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New slopes and a \u201cwalkable\u201d village center<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

In addition to Vuokatti residents, the Vuokatti concept and vision working group, which started in August 2024, has included Eezy Flow, A-Insin\u00f6\u00f6rit, ONE architects, Loci landscape architects, and the Canadian company Ecosign, known for designing international tourist areas. Ecosign’s Mr. Paul Mathews<\/strong> has designed over 850 ski and leisure areas in over 45 countries<\/p>\n\n\n\n

– The basic idea behind the Vuokatti expansion plan is a compact village center on the northern slope area, with plenty of year-round rental accommodation and hotels, which will also create enough demand for services. Everything you need is within walking distance on skis, and there is no need for a car, says Paul Mathews.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Construction and service development are supported by investments and renovations to the slope areas. The first phase plans include extending the current western slopes to Vuokatti Hill (Vuokatinvaara) and bringing a modern six-person chairlift there. At the same time, it will be possible to develop a diverse children’s area with lifts in the area. The plan also includes several new ski slopes, especially on the western side of Vuokatti Hill. In accordance with the Master Plan, the area’s year-round ski trails will be significantly developed, and at the same time, a large number of new, diverse activities have been planned for the area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Vuokatti Hill (Vuokatinvaara) legal area is an important destination for admiring the scenery and its use will be diversified. The plan includes, for example, the renewal of scenic trails, a new scenic hut and a scenic restaurant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Number of international tourists increases tenfold<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

The Vuokatti Ski Resort area development plan will significantly contribute to the development of tourism in Vuokatti as a whole. The well-known Holiday Club Katinkulta and the renowned Vuokatti Sport sports institute, together with the developing ski area, support each other and strengthen the framework for year-round tourism.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kainuu region (Arctic Lakeland Finland) offers international tourists an interesting tourist destination in Finland. Vuokatti’s unique and diverse nature, ideal climate and year-round, diverse activities are significant competitive advantages. Currently, international visitors account for two percent of Vuokatti’s approximately 570,000 annual overnight stays.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

– Our goal is to increase the number of foreign tourists in Vuokatti tenfold. As a result of the development work, we will have a significant amount of high-quality accommodation and diverse services, even completely new service concepts, all of which are important for international tourists, says Ms. Aija Laukkanen<\/strong>, CEO of Vuokatti Tourism Ltd.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

– The strong development of the Vuokatti Ski Resort is an excellent support for tourism in the entire Kainuu region (Arctic Lakeland Finland) and the recognition of the regional marketing name Arctic Lakeland, Laukkanen continues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The employment impact of development projects on the Sotkamo and Kajaani regions is significant both during and after construction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Vuokatti 2040:<\/p>\n\n\n\n