Visit Levi shares autumn agenda
Visit Levi offers the best of nature and hospitality to Indians, and is inviting them to visit this region in Finland in autumn, when they can witness nature’s most vibrant colours and the much-admired Northern Lights. The destination even offers budget a
YInterim CEO, Visit Levi, believes that India is a key potential market for them. “The time period in which Indians travel and our offerings in Levi at that time are a match made in heaven, especially in autumn (AugustNovember) when we have the colours of Lapland and when Indians are keen on seeing and experiencing the Northern Lights. Even from mid-April, we have the most beautiful winter wonderland with the Northern Lights. At that time, we can go down to zero degrees, and for the Indian population, it might feel cold. However, I shy away from inviting them at a time when the temperature is around -15 to -35 degree centigrade, as it can be too cold for them,” he says.
rjötapio Kivisaari,
Why is it best for Indians to visit Levi in autumn? Kivisaari says that at the time, Indian visitors can enjoy the colours of Lapland when the trees turn yellow, orange and red. One can even see the auroras in the sky and their reflection over lakes and rivers. “This has been my observation of FITs who have visited us and by what they have told us. They also described how moved they were by the beauty of nature. This made us wake up and see that there is a whole market that loves what we are doing, and we have not done anything in this market yet. That’s why we made a strategy for India, and hence we have our own representative in the Indian market and have
Visit Levi has been receiving and addressing a number of inquiries about the destination, which makes the board realise that it has successfully been able to drawn attention from the Indian market. Kivisaari adds, “We started working in this market last year, and hence we don’t see numbers in that respect. I do see that the Indian market in Levi is going up by 84 per cent, but we are talking about a small number to grow from, which is very nice. This 84 per cent growth has happened because of the actions that have been taken last year and some of the visibility we have received from the market. Hence, I believe that we do have a shared future together. By 2020, we want to increase the number by 300 per cent.”
A budget destination
Levi, claims Kivisaari, can be a budget destination in terms of accommodation, with room rates as low as 45 euros a night. Also, there are plenty of vegan and vegetarian options for Indians, despite it not having Indian restaurants. However, they do have groups that bring their own chefs with them. “We are very dedicated to the Indian market and we want to invite Indian travellers to visit something that is unforgettable in terms of nature as well as people. We are very hospitable and Levi is very safe, accessible and affordable. Let us spark your soul, is our motto,” he concludes.