Driving Regional Sustainability Practices
Spearheading a movement towards more sustainable tourism in Finnish Lapland - through protected areas, training programmes and a common language for responsible travel.
Our aim has long been to spearhead more sustainable tourism in our region of Finnish Lapland, helping decision makers and providers see why it matters, setting high standards that show it pays off, and building dialogue between the Northern companies.
- Helped Pallas-Yllastunturi National Park gain Europarc status in 2013
- Region signed up to the European Charter for Sustainable Tourism
- Finnish partner of the Leave No Trace alliance since 2011
- Working towards European Ecotourism Network accreditation
Supporting protected areas
We support protected areas such as national parks and reserves and help integrate community and tourism needs into their plans. Through an EU Village to Village project linking villages and providers near the area's national park, we helped Pallas-Yllastunturi National Park gain Europarc status in 2013, and our region is now signed up to the European Charter for Sustainable Tourism, an original goal of Enontekio's marketing group when we first arrived.
Voluntary standards and accreditation
We back voluntary standards and training for tourism operators through EU-led projects, often with Pasi on the steering group or board, from sustainable tourism in the National Park to cross-border cooperation, quality and safety, and along the way completed the workshops for accredited National Park Guide status. In 2011 we became a Finnish partner of the international Leave No Trace alliance, built on 7 principles of outdoor ethics, and are now working towards European Ecotourism Network accreditation.
Building a common language
We live in the heart of Europe's last great wilderness, where environmental best practice is simply everyday life. Yet many local companies do not yet speak the language of responsible travel, so our work continues, building that common language. Enontekio is planning for a future in which individual adventure travellers are a welcome target group, a natural fit for the area's wilderness, outdoor products and natural lifestyle holidays.
Ready when you are
Real wilderness, 200+ huskies, eighteen winters in.