Did you know Finland is one of the most beautiful places in the modern world?

Finland is abundant in beautiful lakes, deep woods, and lush forests surrounded by the Baltic sea. Among the 19 unique regions, Lapland is a magical place where the cold, snow-covered mountains and reindeer are just the thing to make your winter dreams come true.

Rovaniemi, the capital of Lapland and is Santa’s hometown. This town is home to some of the most iconic establishments in Lapland. Among them is Santa Claus Village, one of the most iconic attractions in Rovaniemi. In the summer, the forests and hillsides around Santavaara beckon offer spectacular views of the city below.

In the winter, experience magical snow and ice on the land. This season snowfalls make for spectacular photo opportunities. Ride a reindeer-drawn sled with a group of huskies to meet the Big Guy!

Santa Claus Village features a variety of modern and unique accommodation options, including aurora igloos. There are also numerous restaurants and shops nearby where youngsters and parents can enjoy many activities such as sledding and ice-skating.


About Our Guest: Sanna Kärkkäinen

Sanna Kärkkäinen is the CEO of Visit Rovaniemi, a local tourist board of the Rovaniemi region in Lapland, Finland. She is a long-standing professional in tourism marketing with an astonishing entrepreneurial background.

Sanna has a background in voice communication, tourism and a degree in business administration from the University of Jyväskylä. 30 years ago, Sanna started her summer jobs in the South of Finland, working as a travel advisor. There, her love for tourism and marketing burned brighter. She moved to Rovaniemi 10 years ago and saw the potential of tourism in Rovaniemi.

Today, Sanna has transformed Rovaniemi’s tourism. Her goal is to develop and export tourism in Lapland and Finland to higher quality and sustainable tourism.


In this episode, we talked about:

About Rovaniemi, where’s Santa’s from (0:45-11:57)

Why is Rovaniemi The Heart of Tourism? (12:30-14:01)

The status of Rovaniemi & entrepreneurial mindset during the pandemic (14:14-30:32)

When is the time to visit the beauty of Rovaniemi? (31:02-41:15)

Why are Arctic products so sought after? (42:30-45:38)

Showcasing Rovaniemi, a sustainable and eco-friendly city (46:12-50:02)







Contact "New Nordic Wave of Change" Podcast:

Behance
https://www.behance.net/norders

Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/thenordersco

LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/company/wearenorders/

YouTube
https://bit.ly/320mk2Y

Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/thenorders/

Visit our website
https://norders.org/

Connect with Sanna:

LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/sanna-k%C3%A4rkk%C3%A4inen-a0382539/