The Nordic Travel Fair MATKA 2013 will feature over 70 countries and more than 1100 exhibitors from around the world.
Over 70 countries and more than 1100 exhibitors from around the world will be present at the Nordic Travel Fair MATKA. The world atlas of the fair is added to this year with four completely new destinations that are new acquaintances to most Finns when it comes to travelling. The new destinations of the Nordic Travel Fair MATKA 2013 are Chile, Serbia, Réunion and Sudan. In addition, The Gambia, located on the west coast of Africa, will return to the fair after a few years’ break.
Wines and UNESCO World Heritage Sites
All Finns know Chile for its wine but the country of 17 million inhabitants offers also various other things to see. Patagonia, the southern tip of the continent of South America, and the Chilean Easter Islands far away on the Pacific Ocean are some of the exciting places to visit. Valparaiso, Chile’s second largest city, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. From Finland, flights usually land in the capital Santiago, which can be reached via many European cities.
Serbia, the largest state in the Balkans, is one of Europe’s most multicultural countries. Serbia has many buildings and places on the UNESCO World Heritage List: Gamzigrad-Romuliana, or the Palace of Galerius; the medieval monuments in Kosovo; the ruins of the medieval town of Stari Ras and the monasteries of Sopoćani and Studenica. At the moment, there are no direct flights to Belgrade, the capital of Serbia, from Finland.
Nature, animals and exoticism
The tiny Réunion is a French island. This volcanic island is located to the East of Madagascar in the Indian Ocean. The western side of the island is surrounded by coral reefs, and many animals including dolphins, sea turtles and humpback whales thrive in the waters close to the island. The culture is a mix of European, African, Indian and Chinese traditions. The language spoken on the island is Réunion Creole, which is descended from French. There are two airports on the island, and flights to Australia, Africa, Madagascar and Europe leave from the larger airport.
The most unique of the countries featured at the fair is Sudan, located in Northern Africa. It is the third largest state in Africa, which gained independence in 1956. After that began a civil war which ended in the peace treaty concluded in 2005, but the crisis has still lingered on in the Darfur area even after the treaty. The dry desert lands of Sahara and the area of Sahel, which is known for malaria infections and fast desertification, cover a great part of Sudan. The Nile, the longest river in the world, runs through the country.
Tatiana is the news coordinator for TravelDailyNews Media Network (traveldailynews.gr, traveldailynews.com and traveldailynews.asia). Her role includes monitoring the hundreds of news sources of TravelDailyNews Media Network and skimming the most important according to our strategy.
She holds a Bachelor's degree in Communication & Mass Media from Panteion University of Political & Social Studies of Athens and she has been editor and editor-in-chief in various economic magazines and newspapers.
