"Please Turn Off Your Phones Here"…Finnish Island Declares Itself a Phone-Free Tourist Spot

Ulco Tamio Island Declares 'Phone-Free Zone'
"Helps Alleviate Anxiety and Depression Symptoms"

A small uninhabited island in southeastern Finland in the Baltic Sea has declared a 'no mobile phone' policy for tourists.

British media outlet The Mirror reported that Ulko-Tammio Island in Finland has announced it will transform into the world's first 'phone free zone' tourist destination where mobile phones are not used. Accordingly, tourists visiting the island during the summer will be guided to turn off their mobile phones and relax.

Although not mandatory, the idea is that by temporarily suspending phone use, tourists can fully focus on nature.

[Image source=Pixabay]

Mats Selin, a specialist in island tourism in the Kotka-Hamina region, said, "Ulko-Tammio Island, located on the Hamina coast, will be a phone-free island this summer," adding, "We want to encourage tourists to turn off their smart devices and truly enjoy the island."

Joel Heino of the Finnish National Park said, "This is an excellent plan that could be applied to other tourist destinations as well."

Psychologist Terry Mustonen also supported the measure, advising, "Such short digital fasting can improve our happiness and help alleviate symptoms of anxiety and depression."

The media reported that there are many things to do on the island without a mobile phone, such as walking along the coastline, climbing birdwatching towers, or spending a night in tents or cabins.

Meanwhile, according to the 'World Happiness Report' released by the United Nations this year, Finland has ranked first as the happiest country in the world for six consecutive years.

Finnish psychologist and philosopher Frank Martela cited the four weeks of summer vacation enjoyed annually and the non-competitive nature of the people as reasons why Finns are happy.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.