Finland Times

 

FTimes Photo.

The Rovaniemi Arctic Circle is now having a large-scale tourism facility expansion along with a facelift. It will no longer be the same after 2016-2017.

 

Eight different constructions projects are now underway, some of which have already started while some are waiting on the drawing board.

 

The current summer weather is good for construction, quipped Rovaniemi Kehitys Executive Vice President Heikki Kontiosalo.

 

At Santa Claus Holiday Village, the construction work is waiting for the nesting birds to fly away. Twelve semi-detached houses are up for construction there, which means 24 new apartments. 

 

Eleven more semi-detached houses will be erected later, which will bring the total accommodating capacity to 480 beds.

 

The biggest project is a new main building to serve as the Santa Village’s new reception block, replenished with a lounge and a 200-seat restaurant. The building is expected to be completed by autumn 2017.

 

Similarly, Christmas Holiday (Napapiiri Lahja Oy) entrepreneur Marko Jääskö is also looking into the future. “There are plans to build a small hotel. A plot for of the hotel has been reserved at the Arctic Circle,” Jääskö to Finnish language daily Lapin Kansa..

 

In November, Santa Park opens a 190-seat reception, restaurant, safari building and 26 four-bed cottages resembling conifer cones. Five six-bed Arctic Glass luxury cottages are also being constructed at Santa Park. “We are on schedule. Based on the plans, the accommodation capacity will rise to 200,” said Santa Park Managing Director Ilkka Länkinen.

 

FTimes Photo.

Länkinen has also big plans for the future. He believes, after two years, the Arctic Circle will have a total of 1,000 accommodation berths.

 

“Twenty conifer cone cottages and three luxury cottages equipped with saunas will be constructed. The camping plot will have a space for 200 cars and caravans, small reception building, saunas and playing areas,” Länkinen said.

 

Länkinen’s 10-year plan has already been allotted with a 20 million euro budget. The dream is to erect an ecological 220-seat hotel carved into the rock.

 

Meanwhile, Santa Hotel opens 29 igloos in December. The igloos were to be completed next spring, but due to demand the opening has been brought forward. An equivalent number of igloos will be constructed next year behind the Santa Claus camping site.

 

The last three years have seen a tourism boom in the Finnish Lapland, thanks mainly to enhanced marketing drive and the Scandinavia’s trendiness of cleanliness.