MP30 – As a tourist adviser in Old Rauma

Old Rauma, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, will celebrate its 30th anniversary in 2021. Old Rauma was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1991 as a unique example of a living and well-preserved old Nordic tree city.

Part 12 of the 30 Years of Old Rauma as a World Heritage Site series tells the story of what it is like to work as a tourist adviser in Old Rauma.

Working as a tourist adviser in Old Rauma

For many travellers heading to Rauma, Old Rauma is the main destination of interest during their trip. In addition to the pieces of history that you can already see with your own eyes, the area’s charm is enhanced by its unique status as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The most common person who gets lost in Rauma Tourist Information in summer has either just parked their car and headed towards the market square or started their journey a little further away from the Pyyrman service point. At both Pyyrman’s and the Old Town Hall Tourist Information Centre you regularly hear one particular question – where is Old Rauma?

There are differences in the interests of international and domestic visitors. There are many similarities in the questions, but there are also some differences between domestic and foreign visitors. However, the “where is the toilet” question, familiar from every summer, unites visitors regardless of language.

Visitors to Rauma from abroad are particularly fascinated by the history, the houses and the World Heritage status of the Old Rauma area. Domestic tourists approach Rauma as a bigger picture – in addition to Old Rauma, they are interested in maritime Rauma, changing museum exhibitions and local events.

The most memorable encounter this summer took place at Town Hall in early July, when two elderly gentlemen from the upper West Coast of the United States explored the treasures of the museum shop. They were very impressed to see the area and asked many questions about the history of the Town Hall and the Church of the Holy Cross, among other things. One of the men bought two postcards with stamps on them – and as he put it, “to the United States of America, not the United States of Finland”. He was also particularly impressed by the atmosphere of Old Rauma – entering the area felt like stepping into another world, and the wooden houses gave a strong sense of time standing still.

In a way, this American tourist put into words what it’s like to work as a tourist advisor in Old Rauma. When you arrive at work, you enter a new little bubble with a life all its own. I always take the same route from the bus station to the churchyard, then walk through the square to the Town Hall. Sunday mornings in particular, when the soul of the cross cannot be seen or heard in the square, seem to have their own special ritual. When you leave the workplace, you return to the normal world.

From the point of view of a newly qualified tourism restaurateur, the Old Rauma area and its surroundings have proved to be an inspiring working environment. My workplace at the Town Hall is a special location, as it is at the centre of the surrounding history and current market life. At the same time, highlighting two world heritage sites provides its own unique opportunity. The sights of Old Rauma are easy to describe in different encounters, as the district needs no fancy catchphrases – the impressive surroundings speak for themselves. A summer job in tourism could hardly be better located.

Joakim Heinonen, Tourism Advisor