This week, I took part in the Tapahtumateollisuus NYT 2026 industry seminar in Oulu. The event brought together professionals from across the Finnish event, tourism, and cultural ecosystems at a meaningful moment, as Oulu is already living its year as European Capital of Culture. The seminar was not about future plans on paper. It was about how events and tourism are actively shaping cities right now, in real time. One theme, Events and Tourism together, reflected that reality well. What stood out was the range of perspectives in the room. Producers, venue operators, city representatives, cultural organisations, and tourism leaders were all part of the same conversation. That mix matters, because events and tourism rarely work in isolation. They function as part of a wider urban system that people experience daily. I had the opportunity to participate in two panel discussions that stayed with me. The first focused on the idea of the city as a multi-venue stage. We discussed how cities ...

As I sit down to reflect on the Pohjois-Pohjanmaa (Northern Finland) Matkailufoorumi, our recent travel forum in Oulu, I am struck by the passion and perspectives shared both during and after the event. The conversations sparked at the forum—about connectivity, sustainability, and the balance we must strike as a community—are proof that these are issues that matter deeply to many of us. Matters we need to address. Most of the feedback from the Matkailufoorumi was overwhelmingly positive. The event sparked engaging discussions, highlighted key opportunities for growth, and brought together diverse voices passionate about the future of travel and sustainability. However, some criticism also emerged, particularly around topics like flight connections and the use of AI-generated images. Connectivity vs. Sustainability One of the central themes of the criticism following the forum was the focus on flight connections to Oulu. Some argued that we should prioritize alternative modes of transpo...