Saimaan laivaston vanavedessä

History as a tourism product. Suvorov-themed
cruises and guided tours
Isto Vanhamäki
Turister på museum, Savonlinna 14.6.2007
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Background
General Alexander
Vasilievich Suvorov
(1730-1800)
• Russian Generalissimus, invincible military
commander
• In the early 1790s, Empress Catherine II
ordered General Suvorov to fortify the frontier
area with Sweden
• Suvorov also commanded The army of
Russian gunboats (Saimaa flotilla)
•
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Traditional waterway
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Borderline in 1790s
Russia
Sweden
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Suvorov built a new
route through the canals
Russia
Sweden
Telataipale
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Kukonharju
Fortifications
Local traditions
Suvorov’s canals
Historical
waterway
Lake Saimaa
History of three nations
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Æ Touristical context of Suvorov-theme
Local traditions
Fortifications
Suvorov-themed tours
Lake Saimaa
Suvorov’s canals
History of three nations
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Suvorov-themed cruises
Historical
waterway
Suvorov-themed cruises
Local cruise
entrepreneurs
Cultural
professionals
Academic tourism
expertise
Unique lake environment
A new cultural experince in a different stage
• A quality product by interpreting history and bringing it alive.
• More than a thematic cruise. Rather a theatre on the lake.
• Takes into account all three elements of the lake resource: physical,
functional and symbolic
• Objective is to diversify cruise products in the area and liven up low
seasons.
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Suvorov-themed cruises
Needed elements:
Customer
Feedback
Shipowners
network
Network
controller
Quality
management
Suvorov
cruises
Marketing
& selling
Processleader
Costumes
& prop
Scriptwriter
Actors
Director
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Suvorov-cruise pilot tour in
Lappeenranta 28.5.2007
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Suvorov-themed guided tours
• Suvorov-themed tours take place in Olavinlinna-castle, Lappeenranta Fortress and
Kukonharju Canal
• The main objective is to popularize the history of Suvorov and his connection to the place
• Suvorov-guided tours highlight especially the Suvorov-related period of history
• Kukonharju Canal is located far from towns and main roads Æ thematic tours could make
it more interesting for tourists
• Actors & coordinators:
• Guides in Olavinlinna
• A local drama club Teatteri Tiimi in Lappeenranta Fortress
• An entrepreneur in Kukonharju Canal
• Script, direction, costumes and other properties are made by professionals and financed by
the project.
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Lappeenranta Fortress 3.6.2007
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Olavinlinna Castle
9.5.2007
•
Workshop for kids in Olavinlinna
•
Children can go through the tour
afterwards by playing with dolls
•
Dolls are made by the students of
Savonlinna Department of Teacher
Education (University of Joensuu)
Students of Savonlinna
Department of Teacher
Education
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Summary – In the waves of Saimaa Flotilla
Products:
• 4 piloted cruise products
• 3 piloted guided tours
+ seminars, benchmarking tours, diving tourism development, eContent
Network:
• 13 cruise entrepreneurs in Savonlinna, Puumala and Lappeenranta
• 3 script-writers
• 2 directors
• about 20 actors
• about 50 students and their 6 teachers
Partners:
• Puumala and Ruokolahti municipalities, City of Lappeenranta, ProAgria SouthCarelia, National Board of Antiquities
• Funded by Southeast Finland-Russia neighbourhood program, TE Centre for
South Savo
• The project is active 1.11.2005-31.12.2007
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In the waves of Saimaa Flotilla
Contact:
Isto Vanhamäki
project manager
University of Joensuu,
Savonlinnan Institute for Regional Development and Research
+35850 517 5693
[email protected]
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