TOURISM DEVELOPMENT OF THE CITY OF KOUVOLA (FINLAND)

The successful development of a territory as a tourist destination is not always associated with a variety of recreational resources. In the modern conditions of informatization, of great importance is a favorable image of the territory, which helps to promote the created recreational center. Our study aims to identify the factors that have contributed to the recreational development of the Finnish city of Kouvola, which, in the absence of significant recreational facilities, is one of the most important tourist destinations in southeastern Finland. We have analyzed the features of the economic and geographical position of the city, and identified the most attractive objects of tourist interest based on the content analysis of reviews about Kouvola on tourist Internet portals. We have also examined how careful attitude to the industrial history of the city made it possible to create new attractive recreational objects. The following factors have been found among those making Kouvola attractive for tourists: the border position of the city and its location at the intersection of important transport routes, as well as the presence of interesting recreational facilities in the adjacent territories and large shopping centers in the city itself. Consequently, Kouvola is used as an ‘entry point’ into adjacent territories with richer recreational potential. At the same time, the most important factor in the tourism development of Kouvola is no t the position near the border, but the location on the way of tourist flows. On the other hand, the tourist infrastructure created in the city contributes to the fact that tourists also use it as a point of main stay. Analysis of the recreational development experience of such places can be applied for planning tourism development of geographically similar territories.