Kari Halonen
Italian Outbound Tourism in Europe: Trends and Insights from TTG Travel Experience 2025
Italian Outbound Tourism in Europe: Trends and Insights from TTG Travel Experience 2025 Italian outbound tourism continues to show strength and resilience across Europe, with travelers increasingly seeking authentic experiences, regional diversity, and sustainable travel options. Italy remains one of Europe’s most dynamic outbound markets, driven by a combination of high travel demand, strong regional…
The Power of Small Markets in Tourism: Finding Success Beyond the Crowds
In the tourism industry, many companies are drawn to the largest and most competitive markets — the ones everyone seems to be targeting. These “obvious” markets promise big numbers, brand visibility, and prestige. Yet, for small and medium-sized tourism businesses, competing in overcrowded destinations or with large international players often means facing high costs, low…
Oulu and the European Capital of Culture: A Year of Transformation and Opportunity
The European Capital of Culture (ECoC) initiative, launched by the European Union in 1985, aims to celebrate the richness and diversity of cultures across Europe. Each year, one or more cities are chosen to hold the title, offering them the chance to showcase their cultural heritage, boost creativity, and strengthen their international profile. Over the…
ToolBox Consulting Strengthens Cooperation with Lufthansa Group for 2026 Events
A New Agreement for Global Events ToolBox Consulting Oy is pleased to announce a cooperation agreement with the Lufthansa Group for the year 2026. The agreement covers several international events organized by ToolBox Consulting, bringing together tour operators, travel agencies, and representatives of the travel media from around the world. Thanks to this cooperation, participants…
What is right input-output ratio (ROI) in international tourism marketing?
This is a series of our tourism market analysis and wonders is tourism trade in Baltic and Nordic countries doing the right decisions when planning tourism marketing activities and how much there is an input what destination or company is doing in the market – and what are those decision-making methods and objectives at the…
Global tourism grows 5% in early 2025 despite ongoing challenges
According to UN Tourism, almost 690 million tourists travelled internationally between January and June 2025, about 33 million more than in the same period of 2024, though results were mixed among regions and subregions. When reading sector updates in social media or trade press, success stories often dominate the headlines. Destinations and companies proudly report…
The Baltic and Nordic Presence Shines at Arabian Travel Market
The Arabian Travel Market (ATM) has officially announced the theme for its 2026 edition, which will take place in Dubai from 4–7 May 2026: “Travel 2040: Driving New Frontiers Through Innovation and Technology.” As the leading international travel and tourism event in the Middle East, ATM continues to be where East meets West, exploring the…
The Role of Travel Media in Destination and Business Development
Travel media is a key driver in how destinations and travel-related businesses are discovered and perceived. It encompasses traditional outlets such as newspapers, magazines, and television, as well as digital formats including online publications, social media platforms, blogs, and podcasts. Together, these channels shape traveler expectations and influence decision-making long before an actual booking takes…
Sales Visits in Germany and the Netherlands: The Power of Face-to-Face Meetings
Sales Visits in Germany and the Netherlands: The Power of Face-to-Face Meetings The journey towards new business opportunities began even before we boarded the plane. I had carefully prepared presentation materials and ensured that the price lists and product descriptions were in order. Our goal was to strengthen the visibility of Nordic tourism services and…