Angry Birds Activity Parks entice Asian travellers
Discovery Reports
Putting a twist to Finland's tourism, leading vacation timeshare provider Holiday Club Resorts brings to life Rovio Entertainment's international phenomenon, Angry Birds. With Angry Birds theme parks as the latest in its roster of attractions, Holiday Club entices tourists worldwide to visit Finland.
Two Angry Birds Activity Parks in Katinkulta and Kuusamon Tropiikki opened last year. This year marks the opening of two more parks - in Saariselkä, which opened in February, and in Saimaa, slated to open next month.
"Angry Birds is a Finnish innovation. Through the Angry Birds Activity Park, we can provide tourists an opportunity to come to the game's homeland and enjoy it in a whole new level," says president and CEO Vesa Tengman.
Holiday Club's spa hotels and holiday houses in 26 locations in Finland all showcase different facets of the country's natural environment. The firm also operates holiday houses in six locations in Spain and two in Sweden.
First-class leisure amenities amid picturesque surroundings are a standard treat for guests. They have access to sports and other recreational facilities while they enjoy what Finnish nature offers - blue skies, lakesides and fresh air. For guests looking to unwind, the resort spa is an inviting solution.
"The whole Holiday Club concept is based on helping people enjoy their lives. We have an extensive range of indoor and outdoor activities year-round," Tengman says.
Equipped with conference facilities, business travellers also find Holiday Club properties ideal for mixing business with pleasure. A third of Holiday Club Resorts' visitors come for business conferences. The company is experienced in organising meetings, conferences and exhibitions.
Holiday Club aims to help establish Finland as Europe's next ultimate leisure destination. Rising to this challenge, Holiday Club opens its doors to corporate investors looking for sound investments in the vacation timeshare segment.
Reflecting the company's steady growth, its annual turnover for the financial year 2011 to 2012 amounted to HK$1.2 billion - an increase of Euro28 million (HK$287 million) from the previous year. There were also additions to personnel, bringing the total to 776 professionals.
The company seeks partnerships with travel agencies to attract travellers from the mainland and the rest of the region to explore Finland's tourist attractions. It also seeks collaboration with property developers in Asia for knowledge exchange.
"We invite more Asian and Chinese travellers to come and enjoy Finland," Tengman says. "We offer many experiences they may not be able to enjoy in their own region."