“Finland introduces you to the world’s first mobile-free resort island.” The message is clear: on the Icelandic island of Ulko-Tammio this summer, phones will be kept in pockets and backpacks.
According to several media reports, including the local Yle NewsIn fact, tourists will be invited to take a break from their smartphone during their stay to “take a break from social media and enjoy nature.” Located in the eastern Gulf of Finland, Ulko-Tammio offers its visitors several places for swimming and walking, which the authorities would like to keep safe from electronic devices of all kinds.
No penalty for addicts
“Turning off your phone, exploring nature, and meeting people is sure to improve your mood and well-being. We spend countless hours scrolling through our social media. Taking a short break means you have more time for new experiences and initiatives like digital fasting,” she notes. Take Sari Castrén, a psychologist and head of research at the Finnish Institute for Health and Well-being, for example.
However, it is not about confiscating phones on arrival, the measure is not official and only has a strong message that accompanies a communication campaign from the region’s tourism office. No penalty will be applied to people who have the phone in hand.
Ulko-Tammio managers also specify that there is indeed a network on the island, if you feel a real need to stay connected. Initiatives like the one on the Finnish island are not firsts, however, note the independent AND international mail. In the United Kingdom, a hotel chain specializing in disconnection has even emerged. “Unplugged” (“Unplugged”, in French) offers in particular bungalows where the phone is prohibited and locked in a box.
Source: BFM TV
