Holiday hotspot Ulko-Tammio becomes first in the world to be phone-free

An island in Finland is hoping to become a phone-free tourist destination this summer.

When we go on holiday, we may leave our work laptops behind but our mobile phones often remain glued to our hands.

In a world where people's attention span can barely last longer than a seven-second TikTok video, it can be hard to focus on simply the beauty of everything which surrounds us rather than the constant, ever-changing feed of celebrities, news and threads which clog our brains as much as our feeds.

So, Ulko-Tammio - a national park located in the eastern Gulf of Finland - has decided to take matters into its own hands to give people a proper holiday - urging travellers to ditch their mobiles this summer.

As an island within the world's happiest country for the sixth year running according to Schengenvisa, it's got to be getting at something right?

Annika Ruohonen

It's news which will cause parents to jump for joy but leave influencers descending into a pit of despair, but the intention is pure.

Expert in island tourism at Visit Kotka-Hamina Mats Selin said - as per a news release - that the island 'will be a phone-free area this summer' in a bid for tourists to 'stop and genuinely enjoy the islands'.

Psychologist and Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare research manager, Sari Castrén, urges: "Switching off your phone, exploring nature and meeting people face-to-face are bound to boost your mood and well-being.

"We spend countless hours scrolling our social media feeds, so taking a short break from them means you have more time for new experiences. I’d like to see more initiatives like this that promote digital fasting."

Indeed, social welfare NGO Sosped Foundation psychologist Terhi Mustonen echoes how 'useful' even a 'short digital fast can be' to 'help relieve symptoms of anxiety and depression'.

Annika Ruohonen

And TikTok-fiends be warned, because if the campaign goes well in Ulko-Tammio, it may spread elsewhere.

Outdoor recreation and visitor management at Parks and Wildlife Finland, Joel Heino, said: "We encourage visitors to put their phones away voluntarily and to focus their senses on nature rather than on their phones. This is a great initiative that could be implemented in other nature and recreational destinations, too."

The question is, would you give up Instagram, Twitter, TikTok and Facebook for a whole holiday? Remember, just because you didn't post it on Instagram, doesn't mean it didn't happen.

Fear not if you can't go a day without checking Snapchat though, because *sigh* while you're urged to ditch your mobile in Ulko-Tammio, participation in the digital fast is ultimately voluntary.

Topics: Phones, Technology, World News, Travel

Poppy Bilderbeck

Poppy Bilderbeck is a Senior Journalist at LADbible Group. She graduated from The University of Manchester in 2021 with a First in English Literature and Drama, where alongside her studies she was Editor-in-Chief of The Tab Manchester. Poppy is most comfortable when chatting about all things mental health, is proving a drama degree is far from useless by watching and reviewing as many TV shows and films as possible and is such a crisp fanatic the office has been forced to release them in batches.