Turku – from the sea to the world

For me, the sea has always held exciting promise. It speaks of movement, openness and the fact that the world is bigger than any one city. When I gaze upon the open sea from the archipelago of Turku, I see a body of water that is full of possibilities, the deep blue sea.

Turku – founded beside the waves

Turku sprung up at the mouth of the river, where the sea and trade came together centuries ago. The port has been the heart of the City, a quiet chronicle of all those who have come and gone: Hanseatic merchants, migrants, cruise ship visitors and seafarers. Those whose stories are still being told in the brick walls of the waterfront warehouses. Today, the same route that once brought salt, silk fabrics and stories from the world to Turku now brings new visitors – those looking for experiences that combine history, the sea and the modern world. Turku is international, but in its own, gentle rhythmic way.

The strength of Turku has always been in its ability to evolve with the sea. The City has changed, but its connection to the water has not diminished, it has simply taken new forms. Where sailboats were once loaded with cargo, the world’s most environmentally-friendly passenger ships are now being built. And even though the port is still a construction site, it will, in the near future, be an attractive hub of experiences: open, accessible and full of maritime stories for cruise visitors and city residents alike. The future of Turku relies, both literally and figuratively, on the water. It signifies both a responsibility and an opportunity: how can we travel and live in a maritime city in a way that ensures the health of the sea in the future?

This responsibility belongs to each and every one of us.

From cruises to meaningful tourism

Cruise tourism is increasing globally. While the most important thing used to be the cruise ship or the destination, today, more and more passengers are looking for greater meaning from their journey – sustainability, authenticity and connection to the world around them. The Archipelago Sea is no longer just a gateway, but a part of the experience people are looking to explore, understand and protect.

As my job, I get to market Turku and the Archipelago to the world’s leading cruise companies. In the coming years, Finland and Turku will strengthen their position as an international gateway to the North, where maritime travel is gaining new significance. Along your voyage, as you look to the horizon, you have time to stop and reflect on the past and the future, find inspiration in the silence and, perhaps, shape into something new. In sales work, it is important to relay both a feeling and the truth. Cities and ports are expected to provide a modern service culture, ecological operations, evidence of actions and experiences onshore. Turku meets these qualifications.

Travelling by sea has always been more than just a transition from one place to another. As you traverse the waves, you begin to see the boundaries of the world differently – in a way that doesn’t separate but links it all together.

The moment of arrival

When arriving at the port, something special happens that an airport can never offer. As the ship floats silently towards Turku, the sea gradually changes into a river, and visitors see the City rising up out of the water with its castle towers, shipyard cranes and church bells. As the vessel slows, visitors are greeted by a slight breeze that carries the scent of salt and pine to the deck. Even before stepping ashore, they begin to sense what awaits them. In Turku, the maritime journey never ends, it simply evolves: the sea follows along as you walk along the River Aura, on an archipelago excursion, in the light reflected on the ship’s windows. The port of Turku is not just a point of arrival – it is the gateway to an experience that continues with every step towards the City.

Kristiina Kukkohovi
Writer is a CEO of Visit Turku Archipelago Oy

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