Mushroom Tourism – Vitality and Experiences for Regions
How about a guided mushroom-picking tour, a mushroom-themed workshop, or foraging with the help of mushroom dogs? Mushroom tourism is an emerging trend that opens the door to the wonders of nature and seasonal, sustainable travel. It combines nature, gastronomy, and adventure in a way that attracts both domestic and international travelers.
Combining food culture with nature creates unique experiences, where a meal prepared over an open fire can be the highlight of the trip. At the same time, mushroom tourism extends the travel season and promotes sustainable development.
– A guided mushroom tour can, for example, include a preservation workshop, or a service provider can prepare delicious dishes from the harvested mushrooms while participants relax in the sauna, explains Anna Rinteinen, tourism expert at the Rural Women’s Advisory Organization in Eastern Finland.
Boosting Mushroom Tourism in Satakunta and North Karelia
In the regions of Satakunta and North Karelia, mushroom tourism is still a relatively unknown concept, despite the fact that these areas have all the prerequisites for its success. In North Karelia, mushrooms and other natural products have traditionally been an integral part of the local food culture, with mushrooms even being harvested for export. In Satakunta, the use of mushrooms became more common only after the war. While mushroom knowledge was once passed down through generations, it is now increasingly being digitalized as young people become more interested in foraging.
– Developing mushroom tourism extends the travel season, introduces new products to the market, improves the profitability of rural tourism, and enhances safety in nature activities. It also promotes low-carbon tourism and increases the physical and mental well-being of travelers, states Terja Wahlberg, project manager at the Tourism Development Center of Satakunta University of Applied Sciences.
The Mushroom Boost project aims to develop and commercialize mushroom tourism in Satakunta and North Karelia. The project will create and strengthen mushroom tourism-based business opportunities by increasing rural tourism operators' knowledge of productization and customer understanding, as well as by raising awareness of mushroom tourism in target markets.
– Now is the perfect time for tourism entrepreneurs to seize the opportunity and bring something new and experiential to the market. Mushroom tourism can offer a unique addition to the region’s travel offerings and attract visitors interested in nature and wellness experiences, encourages Wahlberg.