Residents of 'Santa Claus Village' tired of tourists, call for measures in Rovaniemi

rovaniemi - Residents of Rovaniemi, the capital of Finnish Lapland, are expressing concerns over the rapid growth in tourism, particularly around the Christmas season.

Rovaniemi, the capital of Finnish Lapland, proudly dubs itself as 'the official hometown of Santa Claus.' The Santa Claus Village attraction park already attracts over 600,000 tourists annually to the Arctic Circle. Many visitors come during the holiday season at the end of the year.

Within the winter wonderland park, tourists frolic in the snow, take reindeer sleigh rides, enjoy cocktails in ice bars, and even meet Santa Claus himself. 'This is a dream come true,' said Polish tourist Elzbieta Nazaruk to the AP news agency. 'I am genuinely happy to be here.'

Tourism is thriving in Rovaniemi, bringing in substantial revenue for hotels, restaurants, and city officials. However, not everyone is pleased with the influx of visitors, which amounts to about ten times the city's population during Christmas. 'We are concerned about the uncontrolled tourism growth,' resident Antti Pakkanen expressed. 'Tourism has expanded so rapidly that it is no longer manageable.'

In 2023, Rovaniemi recorded a record-breaking 1.2 million overnight visitors, marking a nearly 30 percent increase from 2022. 'The Nordic style is a trend,' noted Sanna Karkkainen, CEO of Visit Rovaniemi. 'People are inclined to travel to colder regions to experience snow, witness the Northern Lights, and of course, meet Santa Claus.'

This year alone, thirteen new flight routes to Rovaniemi have been established, including from cities like Geneva, Berlin, and Bordeaux. Most tourists originate from European countries such as France, Germany, and the United Kingdom.

Critics of mass tourism point out that many apartment buildings in the city center serve as tourist accommodations during peak seasons, subsequently reducing availability for residential purposes. They also argue that the rise in short-term rentals has inflated prices, displaced long-term residents, and transformed the city center into a 'temporary space for tourists.'

Finnish law prohibits professional accommodation services in buildings intended for residential use. 'We simply want the law to be upheld,' Pakkanen emphasized.