Road link drives Hailuoto tourism boom

A fixed road connection between Hailuoto, the largest island in the Bothnian Bay, and Oulunsalo has multiplied visitor numbers, increased business and created new costs and safety concerns for the municipality, Yle reports.

The connection opened at the end of June. The journey to the island, which previously took about 30 minutes by ferry, now takes roughly 10 minutes by car along a causeway and bridges.

Traffic between the island and the mainland increased severalfold after the road opened. At Cafe Kaija in Marjaniemi, the 24-space motorhome park was nearly full on a September weekday morning, according to entrepreneur Hannu Korpela.

The park was full every evening in July, and not everyone who wanted to stay could be accommodated. Korpela estimated that his business result had grown by about 30 per cent.

Cafe Kaija’s restaurant is closed during the winter, but Korpela hopes to keep it open throughout the year.

Visitor numbers increased fivefold

Hotel Luovo entrepreneur Ari Flinck said the summer was a success, with the number of visitors to Hailuoto increasing fivefold. The hotel was repeatedly fully booked, while restaurants remained busy from lunch until evening.

Flinck said the hotel had hired considerably more staff than in previous summers and had brought employees in earlier. News of the road connection came only a couple of weeks before it opened, but that was enough time for the business to prepare.

One surprise was how many people from Oulu said they were visiting Hailuoto for the first time. Flinck said the ferry had discouraged some visitors, particularly on hot days when waiting at the ferry terminal could take several hours.

The longer tourism season is already clearly visible, but Flinck remains cautious about the winter. Hotel Luovo will be open at weekends during the season.

He said the growth in visitors was also affecting island residents. Some people who had previously left their homes and bicycles unsecured might become more careful about protecting their own and their neighbours’ property, he said.

Additional costs for the municipality

The road connection has had two types of financial impact on Hailuoto municipality. The municipality has had to establish parking areas, purchase traffic monitoring services and increase waste management.

These measures created sudden additional costs, for which the municipality is seeking a discretionary increase in central government funding. At the same time, tax revenue is expected to rise because of improved business results and increased employment during the summer.

More sales for local artisans

Luovon Puoji, a shop selling products by Hailuoto artisans, and the Pariton kuppi café operating alongside it opened in September for the first time. Shop manager Maija-Liisa Huttunen said the decision had been profitable and had provided additional income for many people.

The shop sells products from around 100 artisans, all of whom have a connection to Hailuoto. The artisans prepared large quantities of goods in advance of the road opening, but demand still exceeded expectations and more products had to be made.

July was exceptionally busy, with congested roads and full parking areas. The shop needed at least two employees at work.