Sustainable Travel Finland to nine new Santa Claus Village Cooperative members
Sustainability continues to gain strong momentum in Santa Claus Village in Rovaniemi as nine new companies within the village’s cooperative network have received the Sustainable Travel Finland (STF) certification during the past year. With these additions, the total number of STF-certified member companies has reached 23, marking a significant step forward in strengthening sustainable tourism practices at the Arctic Circle.
According to Antti Nikander, coordinator of the Santa Claus Village Cooperative, sustainable development — and particularly the fight against climate change — is taken seriously by businesses operating in the area. The cooperative represents around 70 tourism and experience industry companies located at the Arctic Circle and its surrounding areas. Nikander notes that nearly 90% of the major companies and key tourism operators in the central area of Santa Claus Village already hold the STF certification.
The remaining companies are mostly smaller souvenir shops and tourism businesses located in the surrounding countryside, which may require more time and resources to complete the certification process.
Growing Commitment to Sustainable Tourism
Several Santa Claus Village companies have invested heavily in sustainable development initiatives and environmentally responsible tourism practices. The cooperative really began its sustainability journey when in 2021 its member Bearhill Husky became the first member company to receive the Sustainable Travel Finland label.
Since then, more companies have followed, demonstrating the village’s collective commitment to improving environmental responsibility and sustainable tourism standards. “Although there is still much work to be done, we believe the direction is right and the companies’ willingness to increase sustainability is real,” Nikander says.
Newly certified members
The following cooperative members received the STF certification within the past year:
- Arctic Circle Information / Napapiirin infopiste
- Arctic Circle Snowmobile Park Rovaniemi
- Hornwork – Koru- ja Taidekäsityö A. Kangasniemi
- Icebreaker Sampo and Arktis Cruises – The Icebreaker Company Ltd
- Korundi House of Culture
- Nova Skyland Hotel
- Santa’s Luxury – North Cape Group Oy
- Ranch Kuulas
- Wild Nordic Lapland
A Sustainable Future for Tourism at the Arctic Circle
With 23 certified companies already participating in the STF programme, Santa Claus Village continues to strengthen its role as an example of responsible tourism in Lapland.
The cooperative encourages all its members to pursue sustainable practices and certifications that support the long-term preservation of the fragile Arctic environment and the fight against global warming. However, Antti Nikander, coordinator of the cooperative, emphasises that obtaining the Sustainable Travel Finland certification is not a final destination or ultimate goal for local companies. Instead, it should be seen as one of the key milestones on the path towards more sustainable tourism. “In the field of sustainability, the work never truly ends,” Nikander says.
A full list of Santa Claus Village cooperative members that hold the Sustainable Travel Finland (STF) certification is available HERE.
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In order to get on a more sustainable and carbon-neutral path, the companies of Santa Claus Village have, in addition to their own direct efforts, started a project co-financed by the EU and the Santa Claus Village cooperative. The project, “Towards A Carbon-neutral and Sustainable Santa Claus Village and the Surrounding Countryside”, is coordinated by the Santa Claus Village cooperative. Find HERE more about the project.
