The European Capital of Smart Tourism competition recognizes European cities for sustainable tourism practices. The competition also assesses accessibility, digitalization, and cultural heritage.
Lahti’s inclusion in the European network of smart tourism cities is a significant achievement for both Finland and Lahti on regional, national, and international levels. Lahti has demonstrated a strong commitment to sustainable tourism development and has consistently focused on it since 2020. Lahti’s tourism goal is to strengthen sustainability further and achieve the Sustainable Travel Finland Destination mark by 2025. By then, over half of the companies seeking growth from international markets in the area will have obtained the responsible tourism mark.
One of Lahti’s strengths in the competition was its ambitious work on carbon neutrality. Lahti stood out as a new and fresh lake and nature destination where locals and tourism operators are committed to acting sustainably and developing services. The strengths of the Lahti region include its four seasons and diverse, year-round nature and sports activities.
Success in the competition opens doors to new European tourism networks.
More information:
Raija Forsman, Visit Lahti, CEO, tel. +358 40 5162803
Henna Eskonsipo-Bradsaw, City of Lahti, Growth Services Director, tel. +358 44 482 0838