Experience Lake Keitele Project
The Experience Lake Keitele project enables the long-term development of nature and waterway tourism in the Äänekoski area. The project brings together development measures to create a framework that serves residents, summer cottage owners and visitors, and supports both existing and new businesses as well as local employment prospects. The goal is to increase visitor numbers and extend time spent in the area by making use of both waterways and the road network.
As a result of the Experience Lake Keitele project:
- Companies interested in tourism on Lake Keitele have been mapped, and their competence has been enhanced to meet the expectations of today’s traveler through service design and productization. Target: 2–10 committed companies or other tourism actors with raised competence levels.
- The need for new services along the routes has been identified, making it possible to offer high-quality route services for residents and visitors.
- At least three concrete routes (kayak/paddling route, cycling route and cultural route) have been mapped and designed and published on the Visit Äänekoski pages for residents and visitors.
- Improved digital accessibility and awareness of Äänekoski as a travel destination, e.g. a round-the-clock tourism service via a chatbot
- The life of Akseli Gallen-Kallela in Äänekoski has been highlighted, e.g. with the help of an AI travel guide.
- Content for physical route signposts has been pre-designed for the starting points on city-owned land. In addition, the locations of kayak docks have been planned along the route
More information:
Sini Kaapro-Lindenberg
sini.kaapro-lindenberg@aanekoski.fi
The project has received funding from the EU’s rural fund.
Help design the travel routes
During the Experience Lake Keitele project, three new travel routes (paddling, cycling and canoeing) will be designed in Äänekoski. We’d love to hear your opinion so the routes are as functional as possible and meet users’ needs. Answering takes just a few minutes. Here’s the link to the survey!
Welcome to the route workshop!
In the workshop, we’ll co-create paddling, cycling and cultural routes in the Lake Keitele landscapes in Äänekoski. What would you like along the routes—rest and viewpoint spots, stories, art, or something completely new?
Location: Äänekoski City Hall, Council Chamber
Date: 2.9.2025
Time: 16:00–18:00
Coffee served
Welcome!
Organizer: City of Äänekoski/Experience Lake Keitele project
Walking in an artist’s footsteps – a cultural route to Akseli Gallen-Kallela’s artworks is being developed in Äänekoski
Read the Äänekoski City News article about the Experience Lake Keitele project via this link
Tourism entrepreneur in Äänekoski – the Experience Lake Keitele project’s training package
Join the training that dives into service design and productization! The package consists of two hands-on workshops that offer concrete tools and materials—useful even after the training. The training suits both new and experienced tourism entrepreneurs.
The training is led by Riikka Nurmi from Noste. She has versatile experience in developing SMEs. Riikka has worked both as an entrepreneur and as a specialist in the public and private sectors.
Dates:Wednesday 9 Oct and Wednesday 16 Oct
Time:16:00–19:00
Location:Äänekoski Arena Pankkari restaurant space/second floor, Vanha Vaasantie 462, 44100 ÄänekoskiCoffee and small savory snacks – welcome to learn and network!
Sign up by 3 Oct at the latest by clicking here.The training is provided by the City of Äänekoski and Leader Viisari. The Experience Lake Keitele project is co-funded by the European Union.
Experience Lake Keitele training: Service design and productization for tourism entrepreneurs
The Experience Lake Keitele project’s training package offered tourism entrepreneurs the chance to develop their services through two practical workshops. The training focused especially on service design and productization, and participants received concrete tools and materials to use even after the training.
The training suited both new and experienced tourism entrepreneurs, aiming to strengthen the appeal and customer focus of the region’s tourism services.
The trainer was Riikka Nurmi from Noste, who has extensive experience in developing SMEs. She has worked as both an entrepreneur and a specialist in the public and private sectors.
Evening get-together for landowners on 24 Nov.
A get-together arranged for landowners and road associations along the planned cycling route brought together an active group to discuss the route’s progress and its significance for the area. During the evening, the current status of the route and the opportunities it offers for promoting health and strengthening regional vitality were reviewed.
Present were Fillarihemmo Jani and Jaana Kiiskinen from Äänekoski’s sports services, who provided expert perspectives on the benefits of cycling and route development. The discussion was lively and constructive—participants shared thoughts and questions about the route’s implementation and its impacts.
The planning of the cycling route has progressed step by step, and changes have been made to the route along the way. We are now on the home stretch: the virtual route is nearing completion, and soon we’ll be able to see concretely what the whole looks like.
The event reinforced the importance of cooperation and created a positive momentum for the project’s final steps. Thank you to all participants!
Enthusiasm at Wanhan Aseman Joulu on 6 Dec.
At Wanhan Aseman Joulu, the routes attracted a lot of interest. Thank you to everyone who visited the Äänekoski stand! We received new name ideas for the paddling, cycling and cultural routes, and next summer we’ll get to test them in practice.
Business visits and website updates
Thanks for the meetings during company visits! Up-to-date product cards have been updated on the Visit Äänekoski pages. If you notice any need for changes, please get in touch!
Working in tourism—save the date!
Tue 20.1. from 16:00 at Äänekoski Arena Pankkari!
Hi, tourism professional!
Welcome to an evening where people working in tourism meet.
The aim is to bring local actors together so we know each other and find new opportunities for cooperation!
On the program:
Specialist Linda Nystedt from the Finnish Competition and Consumer Authority talks about the Package Travel Act.
Also attending: Visit Jyväskylä Region’s municipal ambassador Mira Parkkola
Networking in a relaxed atmosphere
Savory and sweet on offer—come get inspired and share ideas!
Note! The program may still change!
New paddling, cycling and cultural routes for Äänekoski: "Tourism in the landscapes of Keitele has great potential"
Read the Sisä-Suomen Lehti article about the Experience Lake Keitele project via this link.
A big thank you!
It’s time to say thank you on behalf of the Experience Lake Keitele project. The new travel routes have now been published, and they will be ready to use already next summer.
The routes were developed based on survey responses, and feedback gathered at events also moved the development forward. It was especially delightful to see many companies join the development activities. A great group took part in the trainings and networking evenings, and thanks to the feedback we received exactly the new and much-needed information we were looking for. The warm atmosphere and shared desire to develop really stood out.
Meetings at Äänekoski Keidas have also been important. Until May, it’s still possible to explore the AI travel guide Äänekosken Ääni and the new routes there. The central area’s Smart Villages are also on display at Keidas.
Implementing the project has been fantastic, as we’ve worked with many different partners—and that cooperation has delivered the best possible results. The renewed Visit Äänekoski website highlights the new routes well, and new product cards have been added. This makes it easier for both residents and visitors to find information.
The paddling routes are by Airopari and the cycling routes by Fillarihemmo. Based on the feedback received, I believe many will head out to try these routes already this summer. The routes will have their openings in June, and I recommend checking them out in Äänekoski’s event calendar.
A huge thank you to everyone involved!