In the future, visitors to the national park can meet the customer service advisors more frequently at the trailheads in Saariselkä, out in the field and at rest areas. Parks & Wildlife Finland is closing the leased Kiehinen facility and investing in providing its customer service online, by phone and at the new entrance gate of the national park. The entrance gate will be opened for the winter season.

 
An impressive, eye-catching entrance gate that marks the park trailheads will be completed in the centre of Saariselkä during the winter season. It provides up-to-date information to visitors of Urho Kekkonen National Park and Saariselkä 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Parks & Wildlife Finland provides visitors with important information tailored to different seasons, and current information is visible on the information displays at the entrance gate.

Metsähallitus experts regularly meet with visitors at the gate, on trails and at other rest areas.

“Everyone can find the trailheads through the new entrance gate and, at the same time, key last-minute information for the trip will certainly be better than before. The challenge faced by Kiehinen's leased facilities was that they were somewhat far away from the trailheads”, explains Joel Erkkonen, Manager of Outdoor Recreation and Visitor Management at Metsähallitus Parks & Wildlife Finland.

Urho Kekkonen National Park Customer Service Kiehinen will close at the beginning of October 

The Urho Kekkonen National Park Customer Service Kiehinen service point will be closed in Saariselkä at the beginning of October. Kiehinen was located in the centre of Saariselkä, in the basement of Santa's Hotel Tunturi Gielas Building. Kiehinen provided hiking advice, handled permits and rented out huts.

The lease agreement for the facilities has now expired, and new customer service approaches are being tested. Even though digital customer service is being emphasised, maintaining a presence where people enjoy nature is also key. Customer service is still provided in matters related to Urho Kekkonen National Park in the same way as before. 

"We might be giving up the walls, but we’re also getting something in return: we’ll be able to meet people in all kinds of new places. Now, when we no longer have on-call services in physical facilities, our customer service advisors will have more opportunities to get out on the national park trails, into Saariselkä village and take part in events”, says Erkkonen.  

Erkkonen discusses the new forms of customer service in his blog post (linkedin.com).

Starting in the beginning of October, Urho Kekkonen National Park customer service can be reached by calling +358 (0)20 6397 200 or email at ukpuisto(at)metsa.fi. Customer advisors will be on-call between 9:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. on weekdays. Current information is also regularly updated on the national park website.  

Further information

• Urho Kekkonen National Park