MATKA NORDIC TRAVEL FAIR 2009 ATTRACTED 86,000 VISITORS

The 23rd Matka - Nordic Travel Fair was organized at the Helsinki Fair Center on January 15-18, 2009.  The fair attracted 1,181 exhibitors and 85,963 visitors (new record), including travel industry professionals (over 15,000), and consumers.  Participants came mainly from Finland and other Nordic countries as well as the Baltic States and Russia.  Based on number of visitors, Matka is the largest travel fair in the Nordic region.

CS Helsinki organized and coordinated a Discover America Pavilion and a “Long-Haul” workshop at Matka in cooperation with the Discover America Committee Finland.  Matka is an excellent venue for U.S. travel and tourism exporters to promote their products and services as well as destinations within the Nordic countries.  The fair will be held again on January 21-24, 2010.  U.S. companies interested in receiving more information or exhibiting at Matka 2010 are welcome to contact the U.S. Commercial Service Helsinki, e-mail: Helsinki.Office.Box@N0SPAM.mail.doc.gov .