Interview With Major of Parikkala- Vesa Huuskonen

On Monday evening March 11, 2019, we meet with Vesa Huuskonen via Skype. It was an amazing experience and chance to reach out across the world. Vesa was kind and understanding of our questions. We sent him a list ahead of time so he would be able to prepare. We learned a lot about the relationship between Russia and Finland. The city of Saint Petersburg, Russia is less than 200 Kilometers from the town of Parikkala. This creates great opportunities for growth and increase in tourism. The area is rich in agriculture and art. 

The major businesses in the area are Timber (which is exported to Russia and Japan), Farming, and Crafts. The area is rich in nature and art. It is truly a perfect get away. They host over 40 different festivals a year, which draw a crowd from all around. There truly is something for everyone. During our conversation we noticed that they have such a rich culture but it is so hard to get it to reach the rest of the world. We are working on Marketing and helping them take the amazing products from the area world wide. 
As we continue to develop and create a plan moving forward we are so excited to see the picture coming together.