Tourism

A dating app the Lappish way: a video camera at the tailor’s shop to see if there are people in the bar

Tourism /

A dating app the Lappish way: a video camera at the tailor’s shop to see if there are people in the bar

Close to the Norwegian border on road 92 is Finland’s most popular cross-country camera, whose image is followed from abroad.

In addition to the weather and road conditions, the image from Finland’s most popular cross-country camera can be used to check many other vital things.

The sun is shining even now at the Inari Weaver’s Lodge, where the helicopter camera is located on road 92. The camera shows, among other things, petrol pumps, a market and a pub.

– People don’t drive when they come for a beer,” Kekäle points out.

Kekäle, who has lived in Näätämö in Näätämö, also follows the Kelika camera himself if he is out of the community.

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A dating app the Lappish way: a video camera at the tailor’s shop to see if there are people in the barRead More »

A dating app the Lappish way: a video camera at the tailor’s shop to see if there are people in the bar Read More »

Hotel Iso-Syöte expands – will close after Easter

Tourism /

Hotel Iso-Syöte expands – will close after Easter

Hotel Iso-Syöte photographed from downhill. The picture shows the hotel logo and the end of the building.
A new wing of rooms will be built in Hotel Iso-Syötte. The first chairlift is also coming to Iso-Syötte.

The new rooms are expected to be completed in autumn 2026, after which the hotel will offer beds for a total of 350 guests.

Hotel Iso-Syöte plans to increase its accommodation capacity with a total of 23 new rooms.

The extension work is due to start immediately after Easter. The hotel will therefore be closed from 21 April to 6 June, after which it will resume normal operations.

The hotel will have a brand new wing of rooms, which will be built towards the ski slopes, where the first chairlift invested by the Iso-Syötte ski resort is currently under construction.

There are eleven suits and twelve other hotel rooms. The rooms are expected to be completed in the fall of 2026.

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Hotel Iso-Syöte expands – will close after EasterRead More »

Hotel Iso-Syöte expands – will close after Easter Read More »

Sodankylä buys two plots from the Forestry Agency and seeks growth in tourism

Tourism /

Sodankylä buys two plots from the Forestry Agency and seeks growth in tourism

Sodankylä municipal house photographed from the front, the wall of the house is the coat of arms of the municipality.
Sodankylä is ready to invest in tourism growth.

Sodankylä will develop the Luosto area, improve access to housing and strengthen tourism.

Sodankylä buys plots and invests in tourism growth.

The municipal government has decided to buy two plots of land in the Luosto area from the Forestry Agency. The total purchase price is EUR 220 000. The plots are located within the boundaries of the completed municipal infrastructure.

In addition, Sodankylä will participate in three tourism projects if EU funding is secured.

The municipality accounts for about one hundred thousand euros.

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Sodankylä buys two plots from the Forestry Agency and seeks growth in tourismRead More »

Sodankylä buys two plots from the Forestry Agency and seeks growth in tourism Read More »

The state buys land and expands Rokua National Park, known for its sand dunes and lichen forests

Tourism /

The state buys land and expands Rokua National Park, known for its sand dunes and lichen forests

Ski ski trail in Rokua National Park in the winter of 2022.
Rokua National Park is located in the areas of Utajärvi, Muhos and Vaala. It is known for its pine forests of different ages and hiking trails, among other things.

The Rokua National Park, located between Oulu and Kajaani, will be extended by more than 60 hectares. Soon to be 70 years old, the protected area has grown fourfold over the years since its opening.

The state is expanding the Rokua National Park in North Ostrobothnia.

More than 60 hectares of land in the northern part of Rokuanvaara have been purchased. It is mainly young and old pine-rich brushwood, which is expected to develop naturally as part of the national park in the future.

In the new area, post-glacial sand dunes are clearly visible, which are now covered by pine forests.

Rokua is known for its ancient dune formations, pine and lichen fabric, and good hiking opportunities.

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The state buys land and expands Rokua National Park, known for its sand dunes and lichen forestsRead More »

The state buys land and expands Rokua National Park, known for its sand dunes and lichen forests Read More »

Tracks on the Kemijoki River ice can lead to death

Tourism /

Tracks on the Kemijoki River ice can lead to death

The footprints lead to a dangerous molten Kemijoki River in Rovaniemi.
Tracks of people on the ice attract others, despite warnings. Not all tourists are frightened by melting areas.

The ice on the Kemijoki River in Rovaniemi is weak in places. Tracks left on the ice by ignorant tourists attract others, despite warnings.

The Kemijoki river bank near Jätkänkynttilä in Rovaniemi is fenced. Signs have also been installed on the shore warning of poor ice conditions and prohibiting access to the ice. Despite the bans and the fence, footprints left by reckless tourists can be seen next to the dangerous melt.

– Many people think that if there are tracks on the ice, I can go there too.

Mäenpää tells of an incident where an Asian tourist was standing right next to a feather. Locals had shouted at the tourist to come ashore. He hadn’t realised that the ice might not hold.

– The cause of dangerous situations is often ignorance. You just don’t understand what kind of danger lies there.

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Tracks on the Kemijoki River ice can lead to deathRead More »

Tracks on the Kemijoki River ice can lead to death Read More »

Passenger numbers on state-subsidised regional flights have remained stable – Kajaani flights have the best passenger load factor

Tourism /

Passenger numbers on state-subsidised regional flights have remained stable – Kajaani flights have the best passenger load factor

Kajaani Airport 29.12.2022. Passengers rise to Finnair's propeller machine.
Passengers boarding a plane at Kajaani airport in December 2022.

Last year, Kajaani had a 54% seat load factor, compared to an average of 42%.

Last year, passenger numbers at state-subsidised provincial airports remained at the previous year’s level.

According to Traficom, the transport and communications agency, the state supported 5 838 flights last year, with 159 600 passengers. The average occupancy rate was 42%. Of all state-subsidised flights, 10% were over 75% full.

A total of 39 761 people travelled through Kajaani Airport last year, which is 1.9% less than in the previous year.

However, the degree of filling in Kajaani flights was 54 % higher than other state -supported provincial flights. Next, the highest rate was on the Joensuu route, 51 percent.

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Passenger numbers on state-subsidised regional flights have remained stable – Kajaani flights have the best passenger load factorRead More »

Passenger numbers on state-subsidised regional flights have remained stable – Kajaani flights have the best passenger load factor Read More »

Visit Ylläs CEO Kati Vehmas to leave her post

Tourism /

Visit Ylläs CEO Kati Vehmas to leave her post

Visit Ylläs CEO Kati Vehmas Ylläs Ski Resort Ylläsjärvi on the slopes.
Kati Vehmas, who has been CEO of Visit Ylläs since 2021, will leave her position during the spring. She says she is considering becoming an entrepreneur.

For tourism in Lapland, Vehmas highlights the year-round scheduled flights from Central Europe to Kittilä Airport as a key achievement.

The CEO of marketing company Visit Ylläs is changing.

– Now is the time to make the switch. A lot has been achieved and the successor can focus on the core task of marketing,” he says.

In four years, both Visit Ylläs’ activities and tourism in Ylläs and the whole of Lapland have developed significantly.

– When I started as CEO, the company employed two regular people and had a turnover of just over € 400,000. Now the Visit Ylläs team employs five people and has a turnover of EUR 1.35 million, Vehmas compares in the release.

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Visit Ylläs CEO Kati Vehmas to leave her postRead More »

Visit Ylläs CEO Kati Vehmas to leave her post Read More »

More international and fewer domestic passengers at Kemi-Tornio Airport

Tourism /

More international and fewer domestic passengers at Kemi-Tornio Airport

The side of the aircraft and the airport in the winter. A person dressed in a vest stands on the edge of the runway.
The number of passengers at Kemi-Tornio Airport decreased last year compared to the previous year.

Nearly 33 000 people travelled through Kemi-Tornio Airport last year.

Last year, passenger numbers and state support for state-subsidised provincial airports remained at the same level as the previous year.

According to Traficom, the most significant change occurred last year at Kemi-Tornio airport, where the number of domestic passengers decreased by 14% while the number of international passengers increased by 27%.

A total of 32 844 people travelled via Kemi-Tornio last year, which is 12% fewer than last year.

State support for provincial flights last year was EUR 18.9 million. It is of the same order of magnitude as in 2023, when the aid was EUR 17.2 million.

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More international and fewer domestic passengers at Kemi-Tornio AirportRead More »

More international and fewer domestic passengers at Kemi-Tornio Airport Read More »

Savonlinna scheduled flights to continue until 2028: Secure charter flights too, says Business Services Director

Tourism /

Savonlinna scheduled flights to continue until 2028: Secure charter flights too, says Business Services Director

Small aircraft at Savonlinna snowy airport in the twilight.
Savonlinna Airport at dawn. Illustration.

Last year, the number of passengers on Savonlinna’s scheduled and charter flights more than doubled compared to the previous year. There is still a long way to go to match the figures of the years before Korona.

Scheduled flights between Helsinki and Savonlinna will continue at least until the end of 2028. The State and the City of Savonlinna will put the 2026-2028 routes out to tender this spring.

The state subsidises Savonlinna’s scheduled flights with €1 million a year. According to Turtiainen, Savonlinna will have to pay a maximum of 1,2 million.

The Director of Economic Development says that scheduled flights will allow tourism to develop. Without regular services, there is no airport and no charter flights.

– If there is no information about the existence of the field, it is difficult to get tour operators to get excited about the area.

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Savonlinna scheduled flights to continue until 2028: Secure charter flights too, says Business Services DirectorRead More »

Savonlinna scheduled flights to continue until 2028: Secure charter flights too, says Business Services Director Read More »

Four young people to work as lighthouse keepers in Sälgrund next summer – over 150 applications received

Tourism /

Four young people to work as lighthouse keepers in Sälgrund next summer – over 150 applications received

Santeri Parkkonen, Pyry Lysmä, Eemil Kosonen and Liinu Oikari look at the camera while sitting on a cliff by the sea.
Santeri Parkkonen, Pyry Lysmä, Eemil Kosonen and Liinu Oikari promise to offer live music, wellness retreats, wine nights and much more next summer.

The city received as many as 150 applications for the vacancy, which opened in the summer. The aim of the lighthouse keepers is to make Sälgrund a better known tourist destination and increase the attractiveness of the island.

Next summer, Sälgrund Lighthouse Island will be home to a team of four young lighthouse keepers.

– We are looking forward to the upcoming summer season and the opportunity to welcome visitors to experience the unique atmosphere of Sälgrund, says Pyry Lysmä from the lighthouse keepers’ team.

He also thanks the city of Kaskinen for the opportunity and joins his team in celebrating the 240th anniversary of the city and the 150th anniversary of the lighthouse.

During the summer, Sälgrund will organize versatile events that combine new and old. There will be live music, well-being retreats and wine evenings.

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Four young people to work as lighthouse keepers in Sälgrund next summer – over 150 applications receivedRead More »

Four young people to work as lighthouse keepers in Sälgrund next summer – over 150 applications received Read More »