Lappeenranta’s sauna world sparks interest among entrepreneurs – city: ‘Things could start happening in the next few years’

Lappeenranta has not yet decided how it will formally apply for an entrepreneur.

Interest has been stimulated since the city started planning its waterfront development last summer, while also outlining a sauna world near the harbour.

Earlier plans for a sauna world fell through in spring 2022, when Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine changed the entrepreneurs’ outlook.

– There can be many different concepts for the sauna world, but I think the idea now is to come up with a concept that is suitable for Lappeenranta and has realistic chances of being implemented,” Pimiä says of his discussions with the entrepreneurs.

Not yet available

The city of Lappeenranta has not yet decided how it will continue discussing with those interested in the sauna world.

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Short-term rentals are already ahead of hotels in Rovaniemi – the mayor says more hotels are needed

Rovaniemi’s record-breaking tourist winter has driven tourists to stay in short-stay accommodation while the city’s hotels are full.

Short-term rentals seem to have overtaken hotels in Rovaniemi. According to Visitory tourism statistics, the city recorded more overnight stays in unregistered accommodation such as Airbnb than registered accommodation in January.

This was somewhat to be expected, as in December, the main season of the year, unregistered accommodation already reached almost the same level as registered accommodation. The total number of nights spent in paid accommodation in the city was almost 308 000.

According to Vainio, the main problem is that there are not enough hotels in the city.

– We have town plans, but the investments have not started at the speed needed.

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Scandic Laajavuori closed for renovation

The renovation will be carried out in two phases. For the first three months, the spa hotel will be completely closed.

In Jyväskylä, the spa hotel Laajavuori has started the biggest renovation in its history. Scandic Laajavuori will be completely closed for three months.

The renovation will include the replacement of the majority of the hotel rooms. The spa, restaurants, bowling alley and cafés will also be upgraded and the building’s building services will be improved.

– All premises will be gone through. Some will only need a light coating, but others will need a major overhaul. For example, the restaurant kitchen and the ventilation in the building will be extensively renovated,” says Pälvimäki.

There will be no changes to the concrete facade of the property as the building is protected.

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The number of passengers in Finnish airports increased, but has not returned to the pre -Korona level

A total of 19.8 million air travelers went to Finnish airports last year, says Statistics Finland.

The number of passengers increased at Finnish airports last year.

According to Statistics Finland, a total of 19.8 million passengers in 2024, which is 7 % more than in 2023. There were about 16 million passengers on international flights. Approximately 3.8 million people traveled on domestic flights last year.

On international flights, the number of passengers increased by 8 % and in domestic flights by 4 %.

Overall, passenger numbers are lagging behind the time before the corona pandemia. For example, a quarter of less people passed through Helsinki-Vantaa last year than in 2019. However, airports increased in Rovaniemi, Kittilä, Ivalo and Enontekiö.

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Ruka-Kuusamo’s prestigious tourism prize at the Berlin Tourism Fair

The prize is a recognition of Ruka-Kuusamo’s investment in quality and responsible tourism.

Ruka-Kuusamo has been recognized at the world’s largest travel fair in Berlin.

The Northeastern destination received the Scandinavian Outdoor Award Travel Prize for Scandinavia’s tourist destinations and is now officially an official tour of 2025.

The jury thanked both Kuusamo summer and winter tourism. In addition to Ruka-Kuusamo, only the Tromsa area from Norway was aimed at the prize. Last year, there were 4 candidates in the travel destination series, 3 of them from Finland.

Tourist destinations can register for themselves. The purpose of the awards is to highlight Scandinavia’s best travel destinations and development projects that attract tourists to the north of Germany, Austria and Switzerland.

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The major reform of Vaasa Sokos Hotel Royal is progressing: Demolition work in the additional building

The renovated hotel will open in the spring of 2026.

The major reform project in Original Sokos Hotel Royal in the center of Vaasa is progressing.

The second phase of the hotel extension is now underway and the demolition work in the additional building has been completed.

There are currently about 120 professionals on site. The construction project will be completed as planned by the turn of the year.

The renovated Royal 2 will open in the spring of 2026.

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Saariselkä’s spa is in such poor condition that the owner has to repair it with the threat of a fine

The municipality of Inari has decided to impose a threat to the French owner of the Saariselkä Spa to finally start the property’s repair work.

Saariselkä Spa has soon been closed for a year. Part of the spa building is in such poor condition that the municipality has decided to oblige the owner to put the building in order with the threat of fines.

In April 2020, the spa building collapsed the hall, where the Angry Birds -Inner Play Park was a collapse. The partial collapse of the building also caused damage to other parts of the building. For example, risk structures have been identified in the pool department and the roof of the reception hall.

The property is still rented by the Holiday Club Saariselkä, who has not been able to provide spa services for almost a year.

Financial losses have been followed by the fact that the spa doors have remained at the spa hotel.

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The world’s largest tour operator starts direct weekly flights from Great Britain to Kajaani

Tour operator TUI flights to Kainuu will continue as the company starts flights from Manchester to Kajaani in December.

In December, the tour operator Tui will open flights from Great Britain to Kajaani. The new flight route will start on December 3 and will run until December 29. Flights are operated on Wednesdays and Sundays.

Arctic Lakeland’s tourist destinations (Kajaani-Oulujärvi, Vuokatti, Paljakka, Ukkohalla and Wild Taiga) have been building a commercial demand in the UK market for many years by participating in international marketing events and negotiating with TUI.

Visit Finland and Finavia have also been involved in the negotiations.

In September 2024, Yle reported on TUI flights this winter in Amsterdam in Kajaani.

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The Administrative Court overturned the formula that would have allowed permanent housing in the Virpiniemi holiday home area

For many years, Haukipudas in Virpiniemi has been controversial to residential arrangements for the holiday home. The plan change of the city of Oulu would have allowed permanent housing

The Administrative Court has overturned the town plan by the City of Oulu. It shows the possibility of permanent housing on 160 plots reserved for holiday homes and seven tourism services reserved.

According to the law, the change in the town plan is contrary to the master plan, even though the purpose of the holiday housing and tourism services areas had been kept unchanged. The Administrative Court considered that the actual impact would be a significant conversion to the area of \u200b\u200bpermanent housing.

You may apply for a license to apply for an appeal from the Supreme Administrative Court.

The residence arrangements for the Virpiniemi area have been controversial for years.

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Panu builds the ocean platform of his dreams in a tent

Panu Heinonen has designed a 15 -meter -long sail boat mainly. The goal is to live in the boat and see the world. First the boat needs to be built.

Nowadays, fewer and fewer build their own boats.

In recent years, self -built sailboats have been registered in Finland every year from one to two. Even in 2018-2020, self -made sailboats were registered from four to six a year.

More motor boats are being built, but the number has been halved in less than ten years. Last year, 39 self -made motor boats were registered in Finland.

There is a bite in front of the tent door. When peeking inside, you first see a rim saw and a plane. The more is a 15 -meter -long wooden sailboat body, which is not ready yet. Its bottom is toward the ceiling.

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