Lappish Sled Dog Entrepreneurs' Association

Why set up the association?

The association drives development on dog welfare and business quality, always tied to sustainable environmental practice, and leads cooperation between all users of Lapland's wilderness trails and natural resources: local authorities, residents, reindeer herders and other tourism businesses.

Pasi Ikonen, the group's president, said: 'As independent business operators we each, individually, have no voice in the area's development. However, as a unified body representing the sled dog business and, in turn, the continued development of tourism in Lapland, we hope to be able to make our needs and concerns heard at a local and national level.'

Editors' notes

Lapland's tourism industry contributes more than EUR 400 million annually to the regional economy, and sled dog experiences are a key attraction driving repeat visits. The health of the sled dog industry and the growth of Lapland's tourism market are directly linked.

Association rules: mission & quality statement

Based in Rovaniemi, the association promotes cooperation between dog sledding businesses, raises their national and international profile, and develops the conditions of the trade with respect for sustainable environmental values and dog-welfare standards, working with residents, businesses, authorities and other stakeholders. Its tools include training courses, industry statistics and research, youth employment, information forums, cooperation with domestic and foreign tourism operators, and a husky quality mark to monitor and develop quality.