Ski resorts are anticipating a record-breaking season – the number of both domestic and international customers is expected to grow

Press release | Fri Nov 17 13:00:00 2023

A new ski season will soon be in full swing. Lapland Ski Resort Ounasvaara in Rovaniemi and Ylläs Ski Resort will open their slopes on 18 November, and Lapland Ski Resort Luosto already opened the season on 11 November. Ski resorts are looking forward to the new season, as Lapland receives a record number of international tourists. The number of domestic skiers is also expected to remain at a high level.

Juhani Roininen, Ski Resort Director at Lapland Ski Resort Ounasvaara, says that the pre-sale of season passes has gone well. Last spring, Ounasvaara was chosen as the Ski Resort of the Year and it’s a favourite of many local skiers.

“I am really happy that the people in the surrounding area enjoy coming here. The good sales of season passes predict that this will be a record-breaking season. When international tourists are added to this, the situation looks very bright.”

A record number of direct flights bring international tourists to Rovaniemi. This winter, there will be direct flights to the capital of the Arctic Circle from 18 different cities around the world.

Ski Resort Director at Ylläs Ski Resort Äkäslompolo Tuomo Poukkanen and Ski Resort Director at Lapland Ski Resort Luosto Janne Kuusela also confirm that expectations for the upcoming season are high.

“If there are no unexpected changes, there will be a lively winter ahead. Both domestic and international skiers are sure to enjoy the slopes, and the conditions are good,” says Poukkanen.

”At Luosto, we especially expect the number of domestic skiers to increase,” Kuusela continues.

Sustainability is considered comprehensively

Sustainability has been taken into account in ski resorts in the coming season, for example, by increasing the number of energy-efficient LED lights and paying attention to the recycling possibilities of garbage. The replacement of snow groomers is also a significant sustainability act.

”We are constantly developing responsibility at the level of the entire Lapland Hotels & Safaris chain. On our slopes, it means, for example, that the collection of stored snow for snowmaking must be carefully considered so that it is done as sustainably as possible,” Poukkanen, Roininen and Kuusela sum up.

Out of the ski resorts of the Lapland Hotels & Safaris chain, Luosto opened the season on 11 November and is open from 18 to 19 November and every day from 25 November onwards. Ounasvaara and Ylläs will open the season on 18 November and Olos on 1 December. Pallas opens in mid-February.

The opening of the ski season will be celebrated at Ounasvaara on 18 November with Oukku Open event 2023 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Ylläs Ski Resort is celebrating the new season from 1 to 3 December with a diverse programme. You can buy season passes for the ski resort at a lower pre-sale price until 6 December 2023.

Image copyrights: Lapland Hotels & Safaris / Jani Kärppä 2023

For further information and interview requests, please contact:

Juhani Roininen, Ski Resort Director, Lapland Ski Resort Ounasvaara, +358 400 629 321
juhani.roininen@laplandhotels.com

Tuomo Poukkanen, Ski Resort Director, Ylläs Ski Resort Äkäslompolo, +358 400 746 718 tuomo.poukkanen@laplandhotels.com

Janne Kuusela, Ski Resort Director, Lapland Ski Resort Luosto, +358 40 719 2794
janne.kuusela@laplandhotels.com

Travel enterprise Lapland Hotels & Safaris offers northern experiences for all the senses. It consists of Finland’s largest private hotel chain, Lapland Hotels, the largest experience service company in the Nordic countries, Lapland Safaris Group Oy and Lapland Ski Resorts.The Group has approximately 1,700 employees in total.

Lapland Hotels has 19 hotels, more than 2,400 rooms and apartments, as well as over 10,000 restaurant seats around Finland: In Ylläs, Levi, Saariselkä, Rovaniemi, Olos, Luosto, Kilpisjärvi, Pallas, Hetta, Helsinki, Tampere, Oulu and Kuopio.

Lapland Safaris offers unique outdoor activities in five destinations in Lapland: Rovaniemi, Ylläs, Saariselkä, Levi and Luosto.

Lapland Ski Resorts comprises five ski centres located in Ylläs, Luosto, Olos, Pallas and Rovaniemi.   

www.laplandhotels.com, www.laplandsafaris.com