Oulu is Having a Moment | Oulussa on hetki
Episode 19
Today’s conversation and guest are unlike one you have ever heard on our show before and I am not just talking about the who, what, and where of the story (all of which are great!) but really understanding what “a good place to live is a good place to visit” means to a destination few of us have been. Something I know our guest hopes to change for us all!
Oulu, Finland is having a moment, and not just against the backdrop of the world which includes sharing a border with Russia, being recently accepted in NATO, or even a brand-new Prime minister, all of which we will discuss. But we’re talking about how Oulu is pushing sustainability, happiness, and warmth to its residents and visitors alike.
Please welcome to the show, Yrjötapio ”Y.t.” Kivisaari from Visit Oulu.
Introduced to the world of destination organizations by a random internship application to Visit Baltimore (then known as Baltimore Area Convention & Visitors Association), Andreas Weissenborn began an unexpected career into hospitality that left him with a continued passion towards the tourism industry.
Yrjötapio ”Y.t.” Kivisaari has served as President and CEO of Visit Oulu since 2021. Oulu is the Cultural Capital of Europe 2026 and the fifth largest city in Finland.
About the Architects of Destination Advocacy
The Architects of Destination Advocacy Podcast is a part of the Destination Marketing Podcast Network. It is hosted by Andreas Weissenborn and Jack Johnson and produced by the team at Relic.