ROVANIEMI, Finland (AP) — Shuffling throughout icy floor on a chilly December afternoon, numerous vacationer teams poured into Santa Claus Village, a winter-themed amusement park perched on the sting of the Arctic Circle.
They frolic within the snow, take a reindeer sleigh experience, sip a cocktail in an ice bar and even meet Saint Nick himself within the capital of Finnish Lapland, Rovaniemi, which fortunately calls itself the “official hometown of Santa Claus.”
The Santa Claus Village theme park, which attracts greater than 600,000 individuals yearly, is particularly well-liked in the course of the vacation season.
“This is like my dream came true,” beamed Polish customer Elzbieta Nazaruk. “I’m really excited to be here.”
Tourism is booming in Rovaniemi — which has resort and restaurant house owners, in addition to metropolis officers, excited because it brings numerous cash to the city.
Nevertheless, not everyone seems to be completely happy in regards to the onslaught of holiday makers, 10 instances the city’s inhabitants, annually at Christmas time.
“We are worried about the overgrowth of tourism. Tourism has grown so rapidly, it’s not anymore in control,” mentioned 43-year-old Antti Pakkanen, a photographer and member of a housing community that in September organized a rally via the town’s streets.
It’s a sense that has been echoed in different well-liked European journey locations, together with Barcelona, Amsterdam, Malaga and Florence.
Throughout the continent, locals have protested in opposition to “over-tourism” — which typically describes the tipping level at which guests and their money cease benefiting residents and as an alternative trigger hurt by degrading historic websites, overwhelming infrastructure and making life markedly tougher for many who stay there.
Now, it appears to have unfold north, all the way in which to the perimeters of the Arctic Circle.
Rovaniemi counted a file 1.2 million in a single day guests in 2023, virtually 30 p.c development on 2022, after rebounding from pandemic journey disruptions.
“Nordic is a trend,” Go to Rovaniemi CEO Sanna Karkkainen, mentioned as she stood in an ice restaurant, the place snow carvers had been working close by.
“People want to travel to cool countries to see the snow, to see the Northern Lights, and, of course, to see Santa Claus,” she added.
13 new flight routes to Rovaniemi Airport opened this 12 months, bringing passengers from Geneva, Berlin, Bordeaux and extra. Most vacationers come from European international locations like France, Germany and the UK, however Rovaniemi’s attraction has additionally unfold additional.
Lodge availability is scarce this winter, and Tiina Määttä, normal supervisor of the 159-room Authentic Sokos Lodge, expects 2024 to interrupt extra information.
Native critics of mass tourism say many house buildings in Rovaniemi’s metropolis middle are additionally used for lodging providers throughout peak season and are thus now not accessible for residential use. They are saying the proliferation of short-term leases has pushed up costs, squeezed out long-term residents, and turned its metropolis middle right into a “transient space for tourists.”
Finnish legislation prohibits skilled lodging providers in buildings supposed for residential use, so campaigners are calling on authorities to behave.
“The rules must be enforced better,” mentioned Pakkanen.
Not everybody agrees. Mayor Ulla-Kirsikka Vainio notes some make “good money” on short-term leases.
Both method, stricter rules seemingly received’t be in place to impression this winter season, and regardless of the unease expressed by locals, mass tourism to Rovaniemi might be solely going to develop in 2025 — as guests need to expertise the distinctive environment up north, particularly in the course of the vacation season.
“It’s Christmas time and we would love to see the Northern Lights,” says Pleasure, a customer from Bangkok. “Rovaniemi seems to be a good place.”
