The activities of Finland Convention Bureau (FCB), the national organisation that promotes Finland as a destination for international congresses and corporate events, will transfer to the Finnish Tourist Board as of 1 January 2011. The decision was taken at a statutory meeting of FCB in Helsinki.
The aim is to clarify FCB’s activities in accordance with the wishes of its members. The new arrangement also complies with the model adopted by most European countries, whose national convention bureaus are backed up by a national organisation similar to the Finnish Tourist Board.
Conventions are a significant source of income
According to the Finnish Tourist Board, activities that support the meetings industry will continue to be an important focus area for promoting Finland. Over the past twenty years Finland has established a position as one of the top 20 congress destinations in the world. Each year international association meetings generate over 100 million euros of tourism income for Finland. One of the first national convention bureaus in Europe, FCB has successfully marketed Finland since 1974.
In line with international practice, Finland Convention Bureau will continue as the marketing name under which meetings industry operations will be concentrated. FCB will also continue to operate as an association whose board will also serve as the meetings industry marketing committee within the Finnish Tourist Board. FCB will administrate the association’s resources and organising activities such as training and networking events.
FCB’s four full-time employees will transfer to the Finnish Tourist Board as long-service employees on 1 January 2011. Further decisions about human resources and key positions within the Finnish Tourist Board will be taken in early 2011.
