Less Christmas tourists to Finnish Lapland

The number of tourists to the resorts in northern Finland has increased steadily over the last years. Now, the trend might turn with tourist companies reporting about less interest in the Christmas season. According to Finnish broadcaster Yle, the number of people visiting Lapland next Christmas could be down by as many as 30,000. The industry itself believes the financial crisis might have made people more reluctant about travelling. In an interview to newspaper Lapin Kansa, CEO of Lapland Safaris, Jyrki Niva says he anticipates a disappointing Christmas season for the Lapland tourism industry. Niva blames the current international financial crisis, which, he says, has made people more reluctant to travel, Yle writes.