History

History

The origins of guiding services in Lahti date back to the beginning of 1952, linked to the Helsinki Summer Olympics. A guide course was organized in Lahti with the specific goal of training multilingual guides to assist international visitors.

Following the course, the Lahti Guide Club was established on May 26, 1952, operating under the Lahti Region Travelers' Association. However, the expected rush of tourists never materialized, and neither did the guiding assignments.

In connection with the Olympic Games, three football matches were played in Lahti.

In the following year, 1953, only four guided tours were conducted. Due to the lack of demand, the club's activities eventually faded away.

Ten years later, the need for organized guiding resurfaced, and the founding meeting of the "new" Lahti Guide Club was held on October 25, 1963. The club maintained a close partnership with the City of Lahti's Tourism Board.

The Lahti Guide Club was dissolved on January 16, 1975, and Lahti Guides (Lahti-Oppaat ry) was established in its place on the same day. On January 1, 1976, the guides operating in Hollola applied for membership in the association.

In 2000, the association was officially renamed the Lahti Region Guides Association (Lahden seudun oppaat ry).