Pohjolan Matka has joined in the Sustainable Travel Finland -program and received STF-label. Companies that have received the STF label are committed to responsible and sustainable tourism. This will be demonstrated through a seven-step program – the development path – at each stage of which various plans and actions required for sustainable tourism and its promotion have been verified. The development path recognises the following needs: commitment, knowhow, development plan, action plan, responsible communication and the acquired ISO 14001 certificate. The goals set by the program must be benchmarked and quantifiable. We monitor our responsibility in three different areas: financial, ecological and social/socio-cultural responsibilities. The goals should be linked to the various global sustainable travel programs in which Finland participates. These include the United Nations Agenda 2030 and Global Compact programs.

Pohjolan Matka has set the following goals for Sustainable Travel Finland program until the end of 2023, based on the strategic main goals, which have been divided into different areas of responsibility. The main goals have been derived from the company’s self-reviews. In the future, stakeholder surveys (materiality analysis) will be included upon reviewing the sustainability goals (see section 3):

Main Goal Financial Responsibility:

We set qualitative and extensive goals for our operations – including customer acquisition and its conception.

Main Goal Ecological Responsibility:

We have acquired and commit to operating in accordance with the ISO 14001 environmental certificate with regard to all our personnel and premises.

Main Goal Socio Cultural Responsibility:

We seek added value and differentiation from competitors by investing in highlighting local cultural traditions and characteristics in our production of travel services. In addition, we make responsible communication and sustainable tourism communication an integral part of both our external and internal communication.

We approach the main goals by handling targets which have been derived from the main goals and their plan of action.

Read more about the program hehttps://www.businessfinland.fi/en/do-business-with-finland/visit-finland/sustainable-travel-finland-labelre.

Pohjolan Matka co-operates with Visit Karelia in North Karelia. Read more about Pohjolan Matka and its sustainability from Visit Karelia’s website.