Flush with bragging rights as the United Nations ranked “world’s happiest country” for the third year running, Finland has taken its innovative “Rent a Finn” program virtual with a new social media initiative designed to let people in on the Finns’ natural way of life and daily routines for feeling happier while staying at home and dreaming about their next trip.
The campaign picks up from Visit Finland’s global Rent a Finn campaign in 2019 and features a live stream series that showcases how to Eat with a Finn, Relax with a Finn or Be Active with a Finn. People can also apply for an exclusive one-to-one session with the Virtual Happiness Guides.
“We want to encourage people to take care of themselves and their loved ones while dreaming about their next trip,” says Paavo Virkkunen, Executive Director, Visit Finland at Business Finland. “During these uncertain times, we want to give people the opportunity to learn about the secrets of Finnish happiness regardless of place or time. This initiative also offers the chance to connect one-to-one with a Finn from the comfort of your sofa.”
Finland is known for its nature, and travellers often fall in love with the clean air, silence, forests, and its free treasures, such as bilberries, mushrooms, and wild herbs. A daily connection with nature is something Finns appreciate, even more during these uncertain times.
“Finnish happiness isn’t skin deep and immediately visible – it’s deeply engrained in our being,” explains Heli Jimenez, Senior Director, International Marketing at Business Finland. “Sustainable happiness is our superpower, and it means we tend to take life as it comes. We appreciate the small things in our daily lives, such as sitting quietly on a bench and staring at the empty lake after a relaxing sauna session or taking a morning dip in the sea before going to work. This attitude will also bring us through these challenging times.”
Finnish Happiness Guide
The new “Rent a Finn goes Virtual” campaign provides interactive learning and encounters with Virtual Happiness Guides. The series focuses on five different areas of Finnish lifestyle, showcasing different aspects Finnish happiness in 60-minute live stream sessions, moderated by a Finnish “virtual happiness guide,” who is specialized in the topic through his/her daily work and life.
Selected guides will also be available for individual 15-minute meetings via Teams, Hangouts or Skype during the week of June 22; participants must apply to book a preferred topic by June 7 at www.rentafinn.com
Meanwhile, upcoming streaming sessions on Visit Finland’s Facebook page (at 10 a.m. EST) include:
• May 15 – Relax with a Finn: Sauna and swimming and preparations before sauna in nature
• May 22 – Spend time with a Finn: Crafting and crocheting, learning Finnish, being in nature, exercises with senses, cycling from city center into nature
• May 29 – Stay active with a Finn: Sailing and exercising in nature
• June 1 – Eat with a Finn: Collecting wild herbs in urban environments and cooking with them
• June 12 – Be happy with a Finn: A village tour to find the keys to happiness from many different sources.
For information: