World's First Phone-Free Tourist Island

Travellers to the Finnish island of Ulko-Tammio will be asked to switch their phones and smart devices off this summer and to simply ‘enjoy nature’ as the location seeks to become the world’s first phone-free island.

The Eastern Gulf of Finland – where Ulko-Tammio is located - boasts plenty of beautiful, rugged islands, swimming spots and charming coastal villages: all are characterised by nature, peace and the Baltic Sea.

“The island of Ulko-Tammio, off the coast of Hamina, will be a phone-free area this summer. We want to urge holidaymakers to switch off their smart devices and to stop and genuinely enjoy the islands”, Mats Selin, an expert in island tourism at Visit Kotka-Hamina, explains.

The campaign aims to encourage people to take a break from social media and smart devices outside the island, too. The staff of Parks & Wildlife Finland, the company which manages the island, are also excited about the campaign.

“We encourage visitors to put their phones away voluntarily and to focus their senses on nature rather than on their phones. This is a great initiative that could be implemented in other nature and recreational destinations, too”, Joel Heino, Manager, Outdoor Recreation and Visitor Management at Parks & Wildlife Finland, says.

Summer is the high season of digital fasting. Technology is part of everyday life and many people find it difficult to put their phone down even on holiday. Sharing your holiday activities on social media might even feel more important than simply enjoying the moment!

“People are not meant to be glued to screens all the time. Even a short digital fast can be useful and improve our well-being and help relieve symptoms of anxiety and depression”, Terhi Mustonen, psychologist and Program Manager of the Limitless Gaming and Limitless Social Media programmes at the Sosped Foundation, says.

Interest in the Eastern Gulf of Finland is on the rise
The Eastern Gulf of Finland boasts a 30-nautical-mile-wide national park, where the island of Ulko-Tammio is located.

“The eastern side of the Gulf of Finland is home to a unique group of islands you won't find elsewhere. According to our research, interest in the islands of the Eastern Gulf of Finland is also on the rise among Finnish tourists looking for a nearcation destination”, Mats Selin explains.

The phone-free island of Ulko-Tammio
Tourists visiting Ulko-Tammio will be urged to put their phones away during their visit and to take in the island and its nature with all their senses.
Participation in digital fasting is voluntary, and the island is covered by a functioning mobile network.
Considered one of the crown jewels of the Eastern Gulf of Finland, the island of Ulko-Tammio is located in the Eastern Gulf of Finland National Park, which is one of the 41 national parks in Finland.
The island is home to rare birds and plants. The island also boasts an impressive history, beautiful and lush nature and rugged shores.
Ulko-Tammio has well-marked hiking trails and a birdwatching tower that offers wonderful views over the national park. Visitors can stay overnight on the island in tents or in the cabin maintained by Parks & Wildlife Finland.
Islands in the Eastern Gulf of Finland are typically accessed using private boats or by catching a commuter ferry, a cruiseferry, a water taxi or a water bus from Kotka.
The east coast has several other islands worth visiting and exploring.

More information:
Johanna Tyynelä, Director of Tourism Management, Visit Kotka-Hamina
+358 40 190 2523, johanna.tyynela@cursor.fi
https://visitkotkahamina.fi/en/archipelago