Finland’s Ulko-Tammio wants to become a ‘phone-free island’, asks travellers to switch off smart devices

Tourism officials for Ulko-Tammio, one of several islands inside Eastern Gulf of Finland National Park, say they want it to be a ‘phone-free island’

Some 63 per cent of millennials and younger travellers say they’ve used at least one social media platform to plan trips in the past 12 months

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Published: 5:44pm, 22 Jun 2023

Administrators at most destinations yearn to have them go viral on TikTok, or dream of attracting droves of Netflix Inc. viewers, despite the risk of overwhelming communities. A small island off the southeastern coast of Finland is taking the opposite approach.

Tourism officials for Ulko-Tammio, one of several islands inside Eastern Gulf of Finland National Park, say they want it to be a “phone-free island” and are urging visitors to “switch off their smart devices and to stop and genuinely enjoy the islands,” said Mats Selin, an expert with Visit Kotka-Hamina, in a release.

The sentiment is echoed by Parks & Wildlife Finland, which manages the island’s pristine environment and wildlife. “We encourage visitors to put their phones away voluntarily and to focus their senses on nature rather than on their phones,” said outdoor recreation and visitor manager Joel Heino, in a statement.

On the travel side, booking a digital-free holiday in a tropical locale is a growing trend that even corporate executives are resorting to, and digital detox retreat options have long existed for those choosing to pull their noses out of phones on trips. But it’s not the norm for an industry that relies on influencers and breathtaking visuals on social media to attract visitors or convey a sense of place.

Some 63 per cent of millennials and younger travellers say they’ve used at least one social media platform to plan trips in the past 12 months, according to the June 2023 sentiment survey of American travellers from Destination Analysts. Besides, does your holiday really happen if you don’t post about all the fun you’re having there?

Attempts to get consumers to ditch their phones have increased over the years, particularly in the entertainment business.

Aurora borealis (northern lights) in Lapland, Finland. Photo: Shutterstock

Electronic dance music artist Lane 8 is famous for his phone-free concerts, and it’s brought bigger crowds for his live shows. Dave Chappelle and Alicia Keys were among the earliest adopters to ban phones at performances through use of the Yondr pouch, dating back to 2015: Pop your iPhone in a grey and lime-green pouch that seals as soon as you close it; you can carry it around, but you won’t be able to snap it open until you reach an unlocking station as you exit the event.