Matka - Northern Europe's largest travel fair

We visited Matka - Northern Europe's largest travel fair. On 21-24 January, the doors opened at the Helsinki Exhibition & Convention Centre to 1000 exhibitors from 80 countries. At the same time it was time for a conference and meeting for over 50 travel bloggers from Europe and Asia to meet through the Nordic Travel Experience (NBE). If we were busy ...? Yes, you can safely say that!

Table of contents

1000 exhibitors from all over the world

The exhibition hall opened on Thursday, and it was really busy! We wanted to see just everythingbut it was totally impossible because we were also busy with breakfast meetings, seminars, speed dating with companies, cocktails, parties and excursions into the forest. There was not much sleep if you say so!

In the exhibition hall we visited everything from Visit Sweden and different Finnish regions to exotic and exciting places like Svalbard, Israel, Madagascar and Malaysia. Travel fairs have a long history in Finland and have actually been organised since 1936. Today, Matka attracts around 80,000 visitors every year, and we highly recommend a visit here if you like travelling!

Visit Sweden var förstås på plats med hashtagen "fika" - här åt vi kanelbullar när vi blev hungriga! — Visit Sweden was of course there with the hashtag "fika" - here we ate cinnamon buns when we got hungry!

Vi tog ett kort i Malaysias stånd med förhoppningen att vinna en resa. Vi vann inte, men det gjorde den finska bloggerskan Veera — We took a card at the Malaysia stall with the hope of winning a trip to Malaysia. We didn't win, but Finnish travel blogger Veera Bianca did - big CONGRATULATIONS!!!

Meetings between bloggers and businesses at Matka

Already in advance, bloggers and companies were able to book 15-minute meetings. Either the blogger or the company could take the initiative, and the other party had to answer yes or no. We had 14 meetings booked when we arrived, all of which were very interesting!

Some companies were focussed on cooperation with bloggers and already had concrete proposals. Others were more curious about how to collaborate with a blogger and wanted to find out more. In general, there was a lot of interest from businesses and we feel very satisfied.

Första dagen skedde speed-dejtingen mellan företag och bloggare vid de här borden — On the first day, the speed dating between companies and bloggers took place at these tables

Programme for NBE bloggers

As I already mentioned, there was a separate programme for the 50 travel bloggers participating in the Nordic Blogger Experience. I've already told you a bit about "pre-tour" to the Turku archipelago and I will tell you more about all the seminars - and what we learnt during them!

I will also tell you more about the excursion to Espoo on Friday afternoon. Otherwise, the programme included a housewarming party, lunches sponsored by various companies, a party at the Radisson Blue Plaza and - of course! - sauna evening.

Housewarming party arrangerat av Forenom, som har hotell och lägenheter i Finland — Housewarming party organised by Forenom, which has hotels and apartments in Finland

Sauna evening med het bastu, bad i isvak (för vissa!) och korv, öl och snack framför brasan — Sauna evening at Finish Sauna Society with hot sauna, ice bath (for some!) and sausages, beer and snacks in front of the fire.

Jennifer Sandström Matka — At the party, we finally got to meet Swedish blogger Jennifer Sandström, who has lived in India, Germany and now Finland.

More to see and do in Finland

While you're at the fair, you can of course take the opportunity to discover more of Finland. There is much to what to see and do in Helsinki and just outside the capital you will find Haltia Nature Centre. Even more tips for Finland can be found below.

24 January 2016 8:53 am

Finland

blogging, blogs, firm, fairs

Helena

Administrator

23 Comments

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Deciree says:

That thing with blog meetings is also in itself an experience I can imagine 🙂 To meet others who blog about what they are passionate about...wonderful:-))

24 January 2016 - 9:56

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Marina says:

It sounds intense, but at the same time so much fun and interesting!

24 January 2016 - 10:33

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Ama de casa says:

Wow, you have really been busy! Fun 🙂

24 January 2016 - 11:02

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Motorhome Helge says:

How exciting that sounds! The TUR fair in March in Gothenburg seems to have fewer and fewer exhibitors every year. It's very sad because I love collecting brochures about future trips.
Enjoy!

24 January 2016 - 11:15

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Comment by post author

admin says:

Deciree, it's great fun and inspiring to meet other bloggers! You can easily feel a little lonely in blogging otherwise 😉.

Marina, just like that! Intense, fun and interesting! 🙂

Ama de casa, intense and instructive it has been! 🙂

Husbilen Helge, how sad that the TUR fair seems to be shrinking! I also think it's fun to collect brochures and then sit and browse them 🙂.

Steve, it was well organised and yes, there was a lot of interesting things for us! 🙂

24 January 2016 - 11:31

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Ditte says:

What fun to have gotten a glimpse of what you have been through. Understand that it has been both rewarding, fun, educational and intense days with many meetings of various kinds and I look forward to more posts when you have landed at home again.
Stay well!

24 January 2016 - 12:09

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Mr Steve says:

An impressive event that fits you like a glove, I'm sure.

24 January 2016 - 11:25

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Matts Torebring says:

Certainly very interesting, but I don't know how you find the time? In addition, you write so intensely yourself and all your posts are usually very elaborate. I'm not bothered by how others do it, but personally, I wouldn't consider advertising on my blog.
Sure I have a link to our company, but it's part of my story. I say no to being on blogs almost daily. But that's up to me. I turn a blind eye to advertising on blogs and don't see it. Take care!

24 January 2016 - 12:28

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Fantasy travel says:

It was really fun to meet you a little more over there! Exhausting days to say the least, but very inspiring ☺️ Looking forward to discussing travel blog development more next time we meet!

24 January 2016 - 12:55

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Comment by post author

admin says:

Ditte, yes it has been really intense! We have just returned to Sweden now, but we will continue to tell you about Finland in the coming days.

Alexandra, of course you have to meet Moomin when you are in Finland.

Matts, thank you for your comment! Your two points (how I find the time + whether or not to advertise) are somewhat related. I spend an incredible amount of time on the blog and that means I don't have as much time for other work (I'm currently working almost full-time on interview studies and teaching for two different universities, but I'm trying to keep my hours down, getting paid by the hour so I can control a bit). For that equation to be possible, we ideally need to start bringing in some income from the blog. The meetings with companies are to a very small extent about advertisements, but mainly about the fact that they want you to visit their destination and write about them, and around this various agreements are made. However, companies can NEVER order specific opinions, but each blogger must always be allowed to write honestly as he or she perceives a destination. To make it clear to the readers if we have made any kind of agreement with a company, we ALWAYS write that it is all done in collaboration with (company name) and we always put the label "company collaboration" or "press trip" at the bottom. We hope this answers some of your questions and we also hope it's an ok approach for our readers. In fact, the blog is primarily a pure leisure activity for us and so far we are probably not going more financially at all, but it is also difficult to put in as much time as we do and not be open to the fact that the whole thing may contribute to some small extra income 😉.

Imaginary journeys, you too! Great to see you! Hope you have a good time in Germany! (Must be a lot of impressions at once ;))

24 January 2016 - 13:12

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anita wag agrimanaki says:

Oh, what a lot of fun and excitement you got to experience! I guess it was both educational and interesting and you have a lot to digest now.

24 January 2016 - 13:21

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Alexandra says:

How nice you are together with Moomin. ?
Sounds like an exciting fair, it would be fun to visit.

24 January 2016 - 12:28

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Role o Carina says:

Wow how big a hit it seems to be! 🙂

Take care......

24 January 2016 - 13:35

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Comment by post author

admin says:

Anita, yes we are sitting here with pictures and brochures and business cards and notes and trying to organise our thoughts, haha 😉.

Rolle and Carina, yes it is big indeed! 🙂

24 January 2016 - 13:49

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Matts Torebring says:

Thank you Helena, for your detailed answer. I clearly understand the whole picture, while being aware of the flip side. What I wrote should not be perceived as a criticism at all, but more of seeing a blog from several angles and possibilities. If, despite everything, you should one day bring home the money you can live on, I will be the first to congratulate you. I wish you all the best in the future.

We are almost in our 70s and we have everything we need and more. Then you probably instinctively shut out most of the advertising that comes. ICA Maxi, Jysk, Willys and many more, are never opened by us, but go directly into the recycling archive. On the other hand, we have no No Advertising sign (Everyone looks so negative and boring) on the mailbox. There may be a bright idea. That you then have time to write so much is probably a mystery after all. Good luck in the future!

24 January 2016 - 13:53

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Comment by post author

admin says:

Matts, I didn't take it as a criticism at all, but perhaps I felt the need to explain a little... not least because I myself think it's an important issue, which doesn't always feel simple! And I understand exactly what you mean about advertising, I think many people have a tendency to switch it off in that way. I probably do that most of the time too 😉

BP, it was lucky that I didn't bring a new guy from the speed dating 😉 We will hardly get rich on this blog, but there are opportunities for some income and we are open to good collaborations with companies. At the same time, it is super important for us to only do collaborations that feel good, and to not have to compromise on how we want the blog to look and be!

24 January 2016 - 14:15

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Renate's travels says:

This sounds very interesting and exciting! I think you got a lot of good contacts 😀 This is definitely something I would like to participate in the future. Maybe next time?

24 January 2016 - 14:56

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BP says:

WOW! What an event! I am really impressed, especially considering that I have never heard of this fair. Oh you really managed to do most things and then some. I can imagine that the speed dating was really interesting if you had prepared yourself. And you didn't have to bring a new guy with you either;-)

Read the discussion between Matts and you. Getting "rich" by making money with a travel blog is probably not possible, but why not make a few dollars here and there if you have the opportunity. You can always contact Blondinbella and Kissie (I think her name is) to get some tips on how to pull in the big amounts;-)

I agree with Matts that you make really thorough and well-written posts. You should have a big praise for that. Oh how you have time - well, if you like something really much, you always have time;-)

24 January 2016 - 14:01

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Comment by post author

admin says:

Renates Reiser, the travel fair is great and NBE is really great for us travel bloggers! Hope you come next year! We hope we get the chance to go again! 🙂

24 January 2016 - 17:01

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Jennifer - Swedish globetrotter in Helsinki says:

Another nicely put together post from the fair! So nice reading 🙂 Hope you got time to rest after the week. Hugs!

25 January 2016 - 11:31

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Lena says:

It was super lovely meeting you at the NBEFinland! I hope you had a fantastic time. Stay in touch!

26 January 2016 - 17:44

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Elisabeth says:

I have no luck commenting with you today, but this is the third time and I hope it goes up.
You got a lot of good and useful information during your visit to Finland. I am sure you will put most of the knowledge into practice. I don't want the pressure of having to write, so I have no advertising or other contact with companies. I like your blog already, so I just say a big CONGRATULATIONS!

27 January 2016 - 11:36

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Comment by post author

admin says:

Jennifer, it has actually been busy since we came home too, haha. But it was fun anyway! 🙂

Lena, nice meeting you as well! We had a real great time at Matka 🙂 .

Elisabeth, how sad that it was difficult to comment, but thank you for continuing to try! 🙂 Understand what you mean by not wanting to feel pressure to write. Maybe I don't really want that either. Maybe it can be a balancing act sometimes, but so far it's almost just fun! 🙂

27 January 2016 - 15:17

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Matka - Northern Europe's largest travel fair

1000 exhibitors from all over the world

Meetings between bloggers and businesses at Matka

Programme for NBE bloggers

More to see and do in Finland

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23 Comments

Deciree says:

Marina says:

Ama de casa says:

Motorhome Helge says:

admin says:

Ditte says:

Mr Steve says:

Matts Torebring says:

Fantasy travel says:

admin says:

anita wag agrimanaki says:

Alexandra says:

Role o Carina says:

admin says:

Matts Torebring says:

admin says:

Renate's travels says:

BP says:

admin says:

Jennifer - Swedish globetrotter in Helsinki says:

Lena says:

Elisabeth says:

admin says:

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