Developing Kuusijärvi nature-based experience area - the stakeholders’ perspective

Abstract

According to the Vantaa city strategy issued for the years 2018-2021, Vantaa is planned to be developed as an international airport city that is attractive to inhabitants, as well as businesses and visitors. In addition, the city strategy includes the development of the the Kuusijärvi nature-based experience area, which has been identified as a vitality destination in the city. This study is commissioned by the City of Vantaa and Avia network. This study aims to explore the stakeholder’s view of the current and future possibilities of the experiences around the Kuusijärvi area, as well as their views on its future development as a part of the airport city development. The stakeholders invited to take part in the study were comprised of the following: tourism and aviation related businesses among the Avia Network, the City of Vantaa representatives, Café Kuusijärvi, nature-based businesses operating in the Kuusijärvi area and Metsähallitus. The theoretical part introduces the airport city concepts, sustainable nature-based tourism and nature-based experiences. Those themes are then interlinked in discussion of the nature-based experiences as a part of an airport experience. A qualitative case study was used as the research strategy and data was collected through semi-structured theme interviews. The results are based on eight theme interviews of different stakeholders. The results of the study indicated that the current Kuusijärvi experience consists of experiences in the nature-like area and being a gateway to Sipoonkorpi national park. Also, Café Kuusijärvi was mentioned as a part of the experience. The area was viewed interesting with its offering of all-year-round activities to visitors. The interviewees described the experiences currently being offered in the area and considered Kuusijärvi to have potential in developing nature-based experiences further. As key challenges of the development the interviewees named the lack of working and storing premises for the nature-based businesses to expand their business in Kuusijärvi, extending existing cooperation and networks between businesses in the area, improve the role of the city as an enabler of development, the lack of an organization specializing in marketing and selling tourism products in Vantaa and the current limited digital accessibility of nature-based experiences in the area. For the future the interviewees envisioned the Kuusijärvi area being an all-year-round hub for activities in the areas of Kuusijärvi and Sipoonkorpi and concentrating in offering unique nature-based experiences through different mediums e.g. sauna and food. Based on the findings this study provides the commissioner with insights on how the Kuusijärvi area is currently experienced by the interviewed stakeholders as well as their future visions for the area. In addition, the study offers the commissioner suggestions for the City of Vantaa and Avia Network to facilitate the future development