The Finnish Santa Claus Village could soon join numerous world destinations in an attempt to curb and control excessive tourism, writes the portal HrTurizam.

This year, a number of countries and popular tourist destinations started with measures to suppress and curb mass tourism. Countries like Spain, Portugal, the Netherlands, Italy, Austria or Germany testified protests against tourism and acts of vandalism by residents who want to change the tourist model in the hope of controlling the number of tourists.
The famous and globally recognized Santa Claus Village in Finland is also witnessing an influx of tourists, so residents are asking for a limit on the number of visitors before things get out of hand. It is estimated that every year 600.000 guests visits the village of Santa Claus, and that number is expected to increase even more in 2025. The time around Christmas is the peak season, of course that's when the most guests flock to the small town in Lapland.

After the pandemic, countries around the world witnessed a sharp increase in tourism. This wave continued in 2024, and residents living in areas affected by large tourist crowds found themselves at a turning point and demanding changes from the authorities.
The Finnish village of Santa Claus was a popular destination even before the pandemic. However, after the world reopened, the number of visitors to Santa's Village doubled. A nearby town Rovaniemi recorded a record 1,2 million overnight visitors in 2023, an increase of 30 percent compared to 2022 and the time before the pandemic.
Many businesses, restaurants and accommodation facilities have witnessed a boom in business after the pandemic and are excited that the local economy is also booming due to the number of visitors. However, not all business owners and residents are impressed by the sudden increase in the number of tourists in the famous Santa's Village.

- We are concerned about the excessive growth of tourism. Tourism has grown so fast that it is no longer under control, He said Antti Pakkanen, photographer and member of the housing network that organized a rally on the streets of the city in September, for The Travel.
Residents living in the center of Rovaniemi also complain about the lack of real estate available to live in, as many apartments have been converted to accommodate tourists or their prices have risen so much that locals can't afford them.
A large number of visitors to Finland is also noted for the stunning aurora borealis, which alone attracts millions of people to the Arctic Circle. In addition to the aurora borealis, tourists also come to the far north to see Santa Claus in a real winter environment. However, climate change have led to a lack of snow this year, showering the area with rain and clouds, which is a disappointment for visitors expecting a white blanket of snow.

While officials at Lapland's Santa Claus Village promote sustainable tourism for the attraction itself and the region on its website, residents feel that the mass tourism happening to them is anything but sustainable.
Residents continue to protest against negative effects that excessive tourism may have on the area in the hope that things will get better, but all relevant figures show that both Santa's village and the city of Rovaniemi will witness a significant increase in the number of tourists in 2025.
