Have you ever wondered where your story truly begins? Personal heritage travelling invites you to explore your heritage in a deeply personal way by connecting with the places, people, and traditions that shaped your family history.

Taigawise is part of the Invitation to a Root Journey – Cultural Heritage and Finnish Roots in Tourism project developing personal heritage tourism in Finland, supported by the EU Rural Development Fund and coordinated by ProAgria Eastern Finland Association / MKN Eastern Finland. The aim is to find out how to make it easier and more meaningful for people with Finnish roots to trace their origins and experience their cultural heritage through travel.

What is personal heritage travelling?

Personal heritage tourism is a form of travel that focuses on connecting with one’s own background – family history, places of origin, and cultural heritage. What often distinguishes personal heritage travel from other types of tourism is the pace and focus. Visits may be longer, and attention tends to shift toward everyday details and personal connections rather than well-known attractions. The goal is not only to see new places, but to better understand one’s own background through them.

Personal heritage travelling can begin in many ways. For some, it begins with genealogy research or a DNA test; for others, it grows out of a general curiosity about where their story began. The trips can also take many forms. Some travellers visit places they already know are connected to their family, sometimes even meeting relatives who still live there. Others arrive with only limited information, approaching the experience as an once-in-a-lifetime step into the unknown. In both cases, the trip is often shaped as much by personal reflection as by the places themselves.

Whether the goal is to walk the landscapes your ancestors once knew, understand your family’s story more deeply, or connect with local culture, personal heritage travel offers a unique and meaningful experience to do just that.

Personal heritage tourism in Finland

In Finland, personal heritage tourism is still developing compared to many other European countries. This means that services and experiences are often less structured and more individual. Travellers may find themselves exploring rural areas, local archives, or small communities where elements of cultural heritage – such as food traditions, crafts, and local history – are still closely tied to place.

As interest in personal heritage tourism grows, there is increasing effort to understand how these journeys are experienced and what kinds of support travellers might find meaningful.

Share your voice: Take part in our survey

If you have an interest in your own Finnish roots or have already taken a trip exploring your personal heritage in Finland, you can share your perspective through this survey (open until May 17, 2026). We hope to better understand personal heritage travellers like you. Your experiences, interests, and ideas can help shape future services and experiences in Finland.

Do you have questions about personal heritage tourism? Get in touch with our expert in sustainable tourism and social responsibility, Päivi!

📩 paivi.suutari@taigawise.fi  📞 +358 50 4069 563