Helsinki reaches out to millions of Chinese travellers with new Helsinki Mini Program

WASHINGTON - Internet service giant Tencent and the City of Helsinki launched a groundbreaking WeChat Helsinki mini program on Thursday 15 February. The new application offers Helsinki travel information in Chinese to almost one billion WeChat users. As a pioneer in utilising open data, Helsinki will continue to work closely with Tencent to further develop the application.

China is the largest outbound tourism market in the world. The cooperation between Helsinki and Tencent gives the Finnish capital a groundbreaking channel straight into the mobile devices of WeChat users. Helsinki has set itself the goal of being the most digitalised city in the world, and the cooperation with Tencent ensures that the city is already now a globally remarkable innovator in digital tourism services.

In September 2017 the City of Helsinki and Tencent signed a cooperation agreement, according to which Helsinki will serve as an intelligent tourism model for Chinese outbound tourism. The two cooperation partners have since codeveloped a destination mini program that offers Helsinki travel information to almost one billion WeChat users.

On Thursday 15 February the Mayor of Helsinki Jan Vapaavuori and General Manager Zhan Shu from Tencent Governmental Affairs and Tourism Center launched the new WeChat Helsinki mini program as part of the Chinese New Year celebrations in Helsinki.

Helsinki uses its open data resources to take digital tourism to the next level
The initial version of the WeChat Helsinki mini program allows users to access content about Helsinki's sights, services, events and transportation. Panoramic Helsinki 360-photos, a translation service and emergency help are also included.

As a pioneer in utilising open data, Helsinki will continue to work closely with Tencent to further develop the application. Helsinki's open data resources include databases for places, events and services. The aim is to build an application that provides users with comprehensive, professional and real-time information and services.

Read more...