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There are several quality programmes that are applied in rural tourism businesses in Finland. Here are the major programmes :
1)
MALO National Classification of Country Holiday Accommodation
The nationwide classification of country holiday accommodation started in Finland
in 1993 . The Ministry of Agriculture and the Finnish Tourist Board along with the
Pro Agria - the agricultural expert organisation - organised a chain of projects
to start the quality classification of the rural accommodation businesses.
There are separate classifications for holiday cottages, farmhouse holidays and bed and breakfast establishments. The classification has five grades. All accommodation must meet certain basic requirements. The actual classification is based on technical requirements specific to each class. In addition the impression of the accommodation services will be evaluated, just as furnishing and condition of the buildings and the environment. The aesthetic and functional general impression has been evaluated since 2008.
Basic Requirements Applying To All Kinds Of Accommodation
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Bedrooms
Minimum size 7 sq.m / person, 10 sq.m / two persons. For cabins built before 1994, minimum 7 sq.m / two persons is acceptable. Beds Twin beds, combinable beds or double bed. Size minimum 80 x 200 cm A covered mattress at least 10 cm thick and an overlay Clean, matching bedding. Extra beds include beds smaller than the minimum, upper bunks of bunk beds, convertible sofas, beds in dressing rooms, loft beds and all other beds which have limited use as normal beds due to their measurements or other qualities. Windows And Doors Rooms must have ventilation. Sleeping areas must have a window. Sleeping area windows must have blinds or other curtains than can be drawn. Ventilation windows and vents must be equipped with mosquito nets. Outside doors must have a lock. Storage Facilities Storage facilities must be large enough for their intended use. Basic Requirements Applying To All Accommodation Bedrooms Minimum size 7 sq.m / person, 10 sq.m / two persons. For cabins built before 1994, minimum 7 sq.m / two persons is acceptable. Beds Twin beds, combinable beds or double bed. Size minimum 80 x 200 cm A covered mattress at least 10 cm thick and an overlay Clean, matching bedding. Extra beds include beds smaller than the minimum, upper bunks of bunk beds, convertible sofas, beds in dressing rooms, loft beds and all other beds which have limited use as normal beds due to their measurements or other qualities. Windows And Doors Rooms must have ventilation. Sleeping areas must have a window. Sleeping area windows must have blinds or other curtains than can be drawn. Ventilation windows and vents must be equipped with mosquito nets. Outside doors must have a lock. Storage Facilities Storage facilities must be large enough for their intended use. |
Assessment of General Impression - New Service for Tourism Quality Work
The general impression assessment service developed for assessing rural tourist accommodation facilities, which will soon be taken into use, offers new content and challenges in more comprehensive accommodation facility quality assessment and development. The assessment service will be launched to the general public this autumn. It will be taken into nation-wide use in connection with projects, for example.
The customized General Impression Assessment Service consists of two parts; an assessment of the actual accommodation facilities and an assessment of the accommodation facility's immediate surroundings and landscape. The assessment of the actual accommodation facilities mainly focuses on interior decoration elements but some structural elements will also be studied. As comes to the immediate surroundings, the attractiveness of the site, the suitability of the facility to its environment and the surrounding yard area will be assessed. Both assessments focus on visual aspects and functionality.
The assessment of the accommodation facilities is done in stages: the first impression, structural elements, lighting, furniture, interior decoration textiles, ornaments, etc. will be assessed. Successful, aesthetically pleasing and functional interior decoration is an issue that will improve the appreciation of the accommodation facilities and also improve customer satisfaction.
The assessment of the immediate surroundings focuses on the first impression of the site as a whole, its attractiveness and the accommodation facility's suitability for the environment. Areas reserved for different activities; plants; functionality of the buildings, structures and fixtures in the yard area as well as their suitability for the surroundings and landscape are some of the issues which are studied in more detail. Appropriate and elaborate environmental construction in which the needs of customers are taken into account will surely improve customer satisfaction.
The General Impression Assessment Service enables further improvement of customer satisfaction, which will offer the preconditions needed for improved utilisation ratio and allow flexible pricing. Attractiveness of sites on a website, for example (such as sales organisations), is more and more important nowadays for companies aiming at good sales figures. This can be most easily done when good accommodation facilities and an environment which has been taken care of make customers feel at home.
Instructions for Entrepreneurs for Practical Measures
The person doing the assessment will leave the entrepreneur a written summary of the assessment including observations, instructions and proposed measures. The assessment complements the technical classification and offers it added value. The assessment may influence the technical classification rating in some cases. For an entrepreneur, the assessment is a new argument to be used in sales and marketing, as well as an aid in communication with customers.
The General Impression Assessment for accommodation facilities can only be done by accommodation facility analysers trained for the task. There are approximately twenty of them in Finland. The General Impression Assessment Service was developed in project Luokitustoiminnan kehittäminen vastaamaan 2000-luvun tarpeita (Updating rating activities for the new millennium) of the ProAgria Association of Rural Advisory Centres. The project was funded by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry based on a recommendation of the Rural Policy Committee.
Source: https://portal.mtt.fi/portal/page/portal/Majoitumaalla
2) Maakuntien Parhaat
Many of the rural accommodation businesses bear the
sign of quality awarded by the Association of Rural Advisory Centres: “Uniquely
Finnish – Maakuntien Parhaat” founded by the Ministry of Agriculture
in 2001.This national quality diploma is granted for rural businesses in tourism,
catering and local handicraft and design.
3) Laatutonni
Laatutonni is a quality programme designed
for the SME`s in tourism in co-opetarion with the Finnish Tourist Board and it is
widely promoted among the entrepreneurs.
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Rural Tourism Accommodation | Cooperation in Marketing |
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