The number of hikers has been higher in September than before the corona period in 2019. Around 100,000 people visit Finland’s most popular Pallas-Yllästunturi National Park in September.
Pallas-Yllästunturi National Park is lively during the autumn season. Hotel Pallan’s route board is even crowded, as people explore the selection and think about the direction of day trips. Some of the hikers arrive from the 55-kilometer Hetta-Pallas hiking trail, their expressions are tired, but their smiles are bright and their mood is like that of a winner.
– You could wander quite peacefully, but there were a lot of people at the campsites, recalls Siltala.
Ruska tourism is still very popular
Ruska attracts hundreds of thousands of hikers to Lapland every autumn. On average, 100,000 people move on the marked routes of Pallas-Yllästunturi during September, most of them are domestic tourists. The peak year was last fall, when Finns traveled domestically.
The number of ruska tourists is not yet available from the terrain counters. Metsähallitus’ Nature Services estimates, however, that the growth in Pallas-Yllästunturi National Park for September is about five percent compared to the time before the corona. There have been hikers on longer routes in the national park, as in normal years.
– Maybe there have been fewer campers, when in the last few years people wanted to be in tents. Now many are trying to stay in desert huts, says Ylläsjärvi.
For tourism companies, autumn is an important tourist asset, but it is too short
In the national parks, the majority are day hikers, there are fewer long-distance hikers with heavy packs. most of the day hikers live in hotels, cabin accommodation or in their motorhomes. They also use a lot of services. Autumn is an important season for companies, but it is too short in time. In September, the share of foreigners in particular has increased.
– However, there have been far more Ruska tourists this fall than in 2019 before the corona virus.
– This year we are again in a new travel situation and we are a little behind last year. The positive thing is that business groups have returned after the pandemic, says Satu Pesonen, CEO of Visit Levi.
For tourism companies in Lapland, winter is the biggest and longest season, which is complemented by summer and the autumn season.
– The greatest kilometers are covered by cycling and about 35 kilometers per day. There will be less walking, says Taina Moovila.
The group will stay in Ylläki, which is known for its mountain bike trails. Everyone is a seasoned traveler to Lapland, as they visit Lapland a couple of times a year.
– People are friendly here, life is more flexible, exclaims Esa Sarin at the end, and everyone’s eyes begin to turn towards the conquest of the fell.
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