City of Rovaniemi’s Tourism Programme Work Progressing Well – Aim Is Tourism That Generates Broad Wellbeing

The tourism programme work of the Rovaniemi is progressing. The work was originally launched as a tourism strategy, but in connection with the preparation process of the city strategy, it has been renamed a tourism programme, as it serves as an implementation programme for the city strategy.

Preliminary strategic priorities and a vision have been defined in the document. These emphasize sustainable tourism, controlled growth, high quality, strengthening year-round tourism, and reinforcing the operating conditions for tourism businesses.

The programme’s objectives and vision have been developed during the autumn and winter in the tourism development group and the political steering group. The work has been based on the views of Rovaniemi residents, collected during discussion events in 2024 and 2025, as well as through a broad resident survey on tourism conducted in winter 2025. The material has been supplemented with targeted interviews.

Next, concrete measures and responsible parties will be defined. The City Council of Rovaniemi provided guidance to support the work during its seminar. The draft will be revised based on the councillors’ comments.

Clarifying Roles and Defining Sustainability Criteria

The tourism programme will also clarify the roles and responsibilities of different actors in tourism development. In addition, it will outline tourism’s impacts on land use and define criteria by which the city will assess the sustainability of new tourism investments and infrastructure projects.

The programme is scheduled for completion in spring 2026. Approval of the strategy is the responsibility of the City Council. The programme work is being carried out by FCG Finnish Consulting Group.