Digital Availability and Discoverability Development Project
Picture: Antti Rastivo
The “Digital Availability and Discoverability” development project will see the testing of a digital platform for knowledge-based management and the development of a regional business model to reach tour operators, MICE operators, and consumers. The goal of enabling digital purchasing in Espoo and its neighboring areas will be pursued by, among other things, developing digital responsible tourism products and route suggestions and making the supply directly available for purchase in the international distribution environment.
Targets are divided as follows:
1) To develop a regional business model to reach tour operators, MICE operators, and consumers
2) To develop and execute a responsible operating model for knowledge-based management
3) To enable digital purchasing in Espoo and its neighboring areas
The development project is funded by the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, the Regional Council of Southwest Finland, and the Regional Council of Etelä-Savo. The primary object for the projects receiving the funds is to promote the reviving and development of the tourism industry.
The project is being carried out by Enter Espoo Oy / Visit Espoo.
The period of execution: From 1 November 2020 to 31 December 2021.
The project has ended on December 31st, 2021.
Travel Planner
Visit Espoo has opened a new route planning and booking platform, Travel Planner, which allows travelers to plan their own travel route, build a package tour of their choice, and make reservations for accommodation, activities, and free sights and services. If you wish, you can also book a rental car.
In addition to customizing your own travel package, the traveler can select and purchase one of the pre-built themed itineraries and packages. Now, the service includes ready-made travel package proposals for an active mini holiday by bike, family holiday, as well as a package for nature fans and those who enjoy marine life. Services are being added all the time, so it’s worth popping up in the Travel Planner from time to time. Read the full article here.
Bookingpoint
Individual experiences, activities, and rental equipment can be booked at Bookingpoint. Espoo is also involved in Bookingpoint, a joint booking platform of Southern Finland's municipalities and tourism entrepreneurs which was published at the beginning of June.
At Bookinpoint, accommodation, transport, equipment rental, event tickets, excursions, and services can be booked at the same place – As a traveler, you can book and buy a Nuuksio canoeing or hiking trip as well as a guided tour of Fiskars Village. The service also helps to compare prices and availability from different service providers. Read the full article here.
Visit Finland DataHub
Visit Finland's national travel product database DataHub is now officially open to tourism entrepreneurs and regions. Visit Finland DataHub, where all Finland’s travel data is in one database, is one of the first national product databases for the tourism industry on a European scale. Visit Espoo is involved in the implementation of DataHub in the Espoo region. An internal operating model and how to utilize the travel product database will be planned during autumn 2021.
DataHub enables the visibility of travel products in several different channels, e.g., Visit Finland's My Stay, the upcoming new VisitFinland.com, Visit Finland's forthcoming platform in BtoB, and in the future, many other domestic and international channels.
DataHub enables Finnish travel data to be stored in and retrieved from one single database. Through DataHub, your product data is digitally available, and thus, can be reused by multiple publishers for multiple purposes. Furthermore, using DataHub is free of charge. Register and insert your travel products and services to Visit Finland DataHub.
Inserting data into DataHub is simple and easy. Travel companies can read tips on how to use Visit Finland DataHub here.
Visit Finland organizes clinics for companies to show how to implement DataHub and add products. You can register via the button below. Behind the same link, there is also a direct link to DataHub's web pages, where you can find more information and instructions on how to log in to the platform.
As part of the project, Visit Espoo has tested the API with the products of companies that have been awarded the Sustainable Travel Finland label on the enterespoo.fi website.
Further information
Tiina Backman
Project Manager
Enter Espoo Oy
tiina.r.backman(at)espoo.fi
+358 (0)41 545 5515
Eveliina Anttila
Project Coordinator
Enter Espoo Oy
eveliina.anttila(at)espoo.fi
+358 (0)40 750 4744