The Swiss family skied in the water and fell in love with Lapland – foreigners are now filled with cottages favored by Finns

Increased direct scheduled flights to Kittilä are visible during ski holidays, for example in Ylläs.

The share of foreign tourists has increased in Lapland year by year, and now this is clearly reflected in ski holidays.

For example, Kolari Ylläs has had as many international as domestic tourists for the first two ski holidays.

For cottages, there are no monthly statistics on nationalities, but Visit Finland reports that short -term rent accommodation for foreigners has been clearly increasing in recent years.

For example, in Ylläs, more and more travelers from Central Europe, France or the Netherlands are choosing cottage accommodation.

In February, in Ylläs, registered accommodation, such as hotels, three quarters of the night stays are foreign tourists. Ten years ago, about 40 per cent of the hotel canvas in February.

– We wanted to experience the right winter and see the Northern Lights, says Andrea Fink.

Despite the mild and foggy weather, the family says they enjoyed their holiday and tried cross -country skiing in the water. A snowmobile trip is reserved for the rest of the holiday.

Nora Bitterli, Andrea Fink, Eero and Kevin Bitterli spend the first time in Ylläs. — Andrea Finkerli and Kevin Bitterli, from Paspelsi, and Nora, 8 and Eero, 10, came to Äkäslompolo for a week from the Alps.

Cottage renter is almost a hundred

Laukkanen says that the share of foreigners has steadily increased. He says the fill rate is almost a hundred throughout the winter.

– We have deliberately kept the exchange day freely selectable: the minimum amount of time in the winter season is three days.

Laukkanen believes that Central European tourists will come to Ylläs during the winter season, attracted by nature, diverse activities and snow.

According to Laukkanen, they have regular customers from Switzerland and Austria. For example, a family from Innsbruck, who comes to Ylläs every Christmas after the snow.

– Innsbruck no longer has a white Christmas, Laukkanen says.

Heli Laukkanen's semi -detached house in Äkäslompolo is accommodated by Central European families with ski holidays. — During the ski holidays, a semi -detached house rented by Heli Laukkanen is accommodated by Central European families with children. Andrea Finkin’s family is one of them.

Straight year -round scheduled flights as a summer tourism boost

Kati Vehmas, CEO of Visit Ylläs, says that the growth of foreign tourism is due to increased international scheduled connections.

– Route flights have been constantly trying to get a longer spring, and now there are still many foreigners in March.

Andrea Fink says they could have flown from Zurich on a direct flight to Kittilä, but they also wanted to visit Helsinki.

Heli Laukkanen also considers the increase in direct route flights arriving in Kittilä as a key factor for growth in international tourism. Ylläs is about an hour’s drive from the airport, which is a short transition even in Central European.

Getting two year-round scheduled connections to Kittilä Airport is a jackpot for Tunturi-Lapi.

In the summer, Discover Airlines, a German holiday company, flies twice a week from Frankfurt.

According to Laukkanen, summer travelers often want to explore Lapland, all the way to Northern Norway.

– When the guestbook reads, many people say they have been on a day trip to Norway in the summer. However, you may not want to change accommodation during your stay.