Vuokatti-Jukola is one of Finland’s largest sporting events, and it has a significant regional economic impact on Sotkamo and the entire Kainuu region. The event brings a significant number of visitors to the region and creates demand for operators in the accommodation, catering, trade and service sectors.
Orienteering events have previously been found to have a significant economic impact on the regions where they are held. According to calculations, Jukola Relay event visitors spent approximately 5–7 million euros in the event area in Mikkeli-Jukola in the summer of 2025. In addition, approximately 2.5 million euros were spent on purchases and services outside the competition area.
Similarly, Kainuu Orienteering Week, which is held weekly in July, leaves an estimated 2–3 million euros to the annually changing organization of its side events. Experience shows that events bring not only direct purchasing power to the region, but also longer-term vitality effects.
The organizers of Vuokatti-Jukola aim to direct economic benefits to the region as widely as possible, for example by encouraging visitors to stay longer and make use of various accommodation solutions.
Cottage and hotel accommodation in the Vuokatti area, as well as accommodation offered by private individuals, form a central part of the event’s service package. Private accommodation can be booked via the Vuokatti-Jukola organizers’ website.
The municipality of Sotkamo and its stakeholders act as an enabler of the event by providing the framework, expertise and cooperation networks for organising a large-scale sporting event. The municipality has long experience in organising national and international events, and this is reflected in strong cooperation between local actors, companies and organizers.
The aim is also to utilise local companies in procurement and services. Vuokatti-Jukola’s event director Sami Leinonen hopes that local entrepreneurs will be actively in contact with the organizers.
“Using locals for procurement and services is also a responsible act on our part as organizers,” Leinonen states.
Vuokatti-Jukola strengthens the municipality’s position as a sports and events municipality
According to Mika Kilpeläinen, the mayor of Sotkamo, Vuokatti-Jukola is yet another great example of the potential for significant events in the region through strong cooperation between various actors.
At the same time, the vitality of the entire region is promoted on many levels.
“The event shows that Sotkamo and Vuokatti have the ability, expertise and functional structures with their cooperation networks to organize demanding and extensive sports events. At the same time, it brings economic benefits to the region and strengthens Sotkamo’s reputation as an active and sports-oriented municipality,” the mayor states.
“Sotkamo’s strong sports-friendly identity has also received national recognition. The municipality has been chosen as the most active municipality in Finland, which speaks to the long-term work to promote sports, well-being and vitality in the municipality’s services, businesses and the region’s active 3rd sector operators. Vuokatti-Jukola will naturally continue this development and strengthen Sotkamo’s position as a significant sports and events municipality.”