Matka Travel Fair brought holiday dreams to the forefront

Last weekend at the Helsinki Expo and Convention Centre was spent amidst holiday dreams and taste experiences. The travel fever among Finns is undeniably high, as trips were planned both domestically and internationally. Simultaneously, the Caravan Fair showcased various travel vehicles and caravans for enthusiasts to explore.

The International Matka Travel Fair was now organized for the 36th time, and visitors came to make decisions about holiday trips, especially for the upcoming summer but also for the following winter. During the day for professionals in the trade, there was lively networking and many joyful reunions.

Spain was the partner country of the Matka Travel Fair. The event included the nearly 900 companies from about 70 different countries. The fair had over 50,000 visitors this year, including the professional visitors attended the events.

"Matka travel fair stands as the biggest and unique industry event at northern latitudes, offering unparalleled networking opportunities of high quality. Renowned as the initiator of the travel year, it not only facilitates global connections through the pre-event Matka Workshop Day and the Business Forum during the trade day, but also attracts a substantial consumer base over the weekend”, says Noora Haatainen, Business Manager of Matka.

New tour operators and products were launched at the fair

A new tour operator, Longitours, was prominently launched at the Matka Travel Fair. Engaging discussions took place at the fresh-looking stand, covering traditional package holiday destinations as well as independent trips to long haul destinations from Brazil to Asia.

"We consider it important that customers can meet us face to face. It builds trust in the long term, which we see as crucial for a tour operator. At the same time, we build our customer base and sell trips," says Göran Mikalsen, CEO of Longitours.

North Karelia participated with an experiential stand constructed for the first time from recycled charred wood, a novel feature seen for the first time at the fair.

"We have received a lot of positive feedback that our booth exudes naturalness and our services that promote sustainable tourism. The main attraction of the booth was the soothing sounds of a communal kantele, which inspired visitors to try playing it. We are very pleased with our visibility at the Matka Travel Fair, and participation significantly boosted our team spirit in the regional development of tourism," says Marja Tiittanen from Pohjois-Karjalan matkailu ry.

Caravan Fair presented over 100 travel vehicles and caravans

The Helsinki Caravan Fair 2024 showcased the latest developments in travel vehicles and highlighted the possibilities of vehicle-based travel from Friday to Sunday, at the same time as the Matka Travel Fair. This arrangement will continue for the next three years, as the Helsinki Expo and Convention Centre signed a partnership agreement with the Federation of Finnish Caravan Importers on the opening day of the fair. "At Helsinki Caravan Fair, we reach not only active vehicle travelers but also many new customer segments. There is a growing interest in travel vehicles, and this year has seen a significant number of transactions for new vehicles," says Mika Jokinen, CEO, Federation of Finnish Caravan Importers.

The Matka Workshop Day, held in conjunction with the Matka Travel Fair, drew a substantial attendance of 630 professionals, making it the most significant travel trade event in the Nordic countries. On January 17th, a total of 234 companies participated as sellers, and 226 buyers from 39 different countries took part in the event. Impressively, a grand total of 3,600 meetings were organised, reflecting the event's robust networking and business opportunities.

The next Matka Travel Fair, will be held on January 16−19, 2025, at the Helsinki Expo and Convention Centre. The international travel trade event, Matka Workshop Day, will kick off Matka Travel Fair on January 15, 2025. Helsinki Caravan Fair will take place on January 17−19, 2025. | www.matkamessut.fi | LinkedIn | @matkatravelfair | #Matkamessut #Matka2024 www.caravanmessut.fi | #caravanmessut @helsingincaravanmessut

Further information: Helsinki Expo and Convention Centre, Matka Travel Fair, Communicatons, Anu-Eveliina Mattila, tel. +358 50 555 6183, anu-eveliina.mattila@messukeskus.com.
Caravan Fair, Communications, Teija Armanto, tel. +358 50 376 0804, teija.armanto@messukeskus.com.