New ideas for well-being tourism

The Well-being from Nature project has enabled entrepreneurs to network and exchange information both nationally and internationally. The workshops and especially the study visits enabled the brainstorming of new services and products. Below you will find a collection of the ideas generated by the study visits and the new ideas they generated for the development of tourism services.

Thoughts from study visits

It is not so much about the settings it is the attitude and mindset that counts
Authenticity matters!
You have to have the patience to calm down and relax in nature
The invigorating effect of fresh air, animals is genuin
Nature and well-being should is anything but mass tourism
Nature itself is soothing -seeing different kind of nature from what you are used to is sufficient
Nature in its original element is the best treatment for body and mind
Using local products and taking pride in them
History, culture and religion are also sources of well-being
Making the most of herbs

New ideas

Guided forest walks
Forest yoga
“Tell your worries to the cow”
Travel app
Guided walks (walk-and-talk)
Guided swims and explaining the benefits of swimming
Artist-retreat: art classes in nature
Exploiting and storytelling history into products
Products about rowing, berry picking and mushroom picking

One of the key lessons learned from this project was the importance of productisation. As one entrepreneur said, you can productise practically everything!

The strengths ans opportunities of South Ostrobothnia as seen through the eyes of international visitors

Sometimes it is good to assess your own environment and services from an outside. Many everyday things may seem like extraordinary experiences to an outsider. You can develop an external eye by travelling yourself or by inviting visitors to see your everyday life. The micro entrepreneurs involved in the Well-being from Nature project had the opportunity to do both.

In addition to providing an excellent opportunity for networking and developing new ideas, entrepreneurs felt that the studyvisits increased their appreciation of their own activities and practices. In addition, the Irish and Maltese guests who came to Finland gave valuable feedback to the South Ostrobothnian entrepreneurs. Based on the feedback from the guests, the following analysis of the region’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats was built up.

Strengts

Efficient infrastructure
Forest
Clean air
Safety
Open spaces
Education

Weaknesses

No straight flights
Restaurants close quite early for southern Europeans
Lack of a proper tourism strategy?

Opportunities

University of applied sciences – students and their families as tourists
Wider cooperation with different regions (e.g. South Ostrobothnia as a stopover on the way north)
Application to find events, accommodation, activities, etc. in the region.