Helsinki, Finland, has been recognised as a best practice by the Sustainable EU Tourism project for its integrated approach to tourism safety and crisis preparedness.

In response to external risks such as the COVID-19 pandemic and geopolitical tensions, the city launched a dedicated project between 2020 and 2022 to strengthen the resilience of its tourism sector. Led by the City Council’s Safety and Preparedness Team and the Helsinki Tourism and Event Safety Steering Group, the initiative resulted in the creation of a comprehensive safety plan, regular coordination with local stakeholders, and the publication of Compass, a practical handbook for tourism and event safety.

The city also launched DataLokki, a data platform offering real-time insights and indicators to guide risk management and product development, and activated the Helsingin Tekijät network, bringing together over 140 tourism and hospitality actors for knowledge sharing and joint preparedness.

This work has ensured that tourism is now fully integrated into the city’s emergency planning and better supported at both local and national levels.

Helsinki’s experience highlights the importance of safety, data, and collaboration as pillars of sustainable tourism development in a changing global environment.

For more details on the key challenges the destination has faced, and the solutions implemented to address them, please refer to the attached document. 

#Destination management #Resilience planning #Sustainable tourism #Innovation in tourism #Stakeholder engagement #Tourism development