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Finland Mentioned – Hanover Welcomes Finns

Hanover, the capital of the state of Ala-Saksin, has incorporated Finnish elements into its marketing efforts, most recently by offering its website in Finnish as well.

Hanover is excited about Finnish tourists. According to market data from the German National Tourist Board (Deutsche Zentrale für Tourismus), Germany was the fourth most popular international travel destination among Finns in 2015. Finns took half a million trips lasting at least one overnight stay. Hannover has taken note of this trend, and the city hopes to draw the attention of this growing audience to the Lower Saxony region.

The new website reveals, among other things, that Hannover’s top attractions include the Herrenhausen Royal Garden, the castle-like city hall, and Europe’s largest urban forest. Hanover also serves as the host city for major outdoor events in Northern Germany, such as the Maschsee Festival, the international fireworks competition, and the traditional Schützenfest. Not to mention that the city’s world-class universities and its exhibition grounds—the largest in the world in terms of area—contribute to its international appeal.

Finns are, of course, known as a linguistically skilled people and do not often expect to encounter information in their own language outside of Finland or Finnish services. However, in Hanover, Finns have also been recognized as a distinct group, and efforts have been made to create Finnish-language materials. “It’s a matter of friendliness and courtesy. Even though we can’t guarantee that all of Hannover’s services will be available in Finnish, we can at least greet tourists and start a conversation in their own language, thereby welcoming them,” says Hans Nolte, director of Hannover Marketing & Tourism.

Welcome to Hanover!

Click this link to go to Hannover's Finnish-language website.

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