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Rent a Finn for virtual happiness

Rent a Finn goes virtual is a chance to stop and smell the flowers, online.Julia Kivelä / Visit Finland

A new social media initiative by Visit Finland offers people the chance to learn happiness skills from the world’s happiest people.

Visit Finland is once again inviting people around the world to get to know the Finnish way of life. The tourism body is launching a new social media initiative for the coronavirus age, continuing from its successful Rent a Finn campaign in 2019.

The interactive series showcases five different areas of Finnish lifestyle via weekly livestreaming sessions on Visit Finland’s Facebook and YouTube page. The themes are Eat with a Finn, Relax with a Finn, Be active with a Finn, Spend time with a Finn and Be happy with a Finn.

The campaign highlights the factors that contribute to happiness here. Image: Harri Tarvainen/Visit Finland

People can also apply for an exclusive one-to-one session with the guides leading these sessions, which will be held in June.

“We want to encourage people to take care of themselves and their loved ones while dreaming about their next trip,” said Paavo Virkkunen, executive director of Visit Finland at Business Finland. “The Rent a Finn campaign of 2019 was a great success, and 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.”

The series kicks off on 15 May with the Relax with a Finn guide, Päivikki Koskinen, teaching about sauna, bathing and sauna preparations.

Paivikki Koskinen Image: Paivikki Koskinen

All good things come in threes

Earlier this year, Finland was chosen as the happiest country in the world for the third year in a row. The World Happiness Report surveyed citizens’ perceptions to rank 156 countries against factors such as trust, sense of freedom to make key life decisions, generosity and having someone to count on.

“Finnish happiness isn’t skin deep and immediately visible – it’s deeply engrained in our being,” explained Heli Jimenez, senior director of international marketing at Business Finland.

“Sustainable happiness is our superpower, and it means we tend to take life as it comes,” she continued. “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.”

The livestream series includes a tour of Finland’s happiest village, Mathildedal. Image: Julie Kivelä / Visit Finland

Good News from Finland and Visit Finland are both part of Business Finland.

Published on 11.05.2020