Authenticity and nature experiences attract people to Lapland

Lapland is in the peak season for tourism. Chinese tourists have found their way to Lapland thanks to successful marketing campaigns, improved flight connections and lucky social media coverage. The number of tourists from China and other Asian countries is growing year on year, and the real boom is only expected to come.

New service concepts and hotels are being developed to meet the needs and aspirations of Asian tourists who can afford to pay. The traditional log cabin is no longer enough for everyone, and many tourists want to stay in a modern environment. There is now a demand for Scandinavian, lighter wooden architecture, where lightness and simplicity are the key. In the latest accommodation, modern wooden architecture is combined with design and ecology. One example is the Star Arctic hotel, which opened in Saariselkä in December, where clean lines and Finnish wood play a leading role.

- We wanted to design a modern hotel in a unique location, on the top of Kaunispää, where the exceptional nature experience is highlighted. The wooden materials of the buildings and the unobstructed view of the arctic landscape unite all spaces. Nature and functionality remain the main starting points for tourism architecture in Lapland. In particular, solutions combining glass and wood are popular with Asian tourists," says Mikko Juntura, architect at Star Arctic.

EXOTIC WOOD ARCHITECTURE

The Star Arctic Hotel is a rarity in the Lapland hotel market because of its location. Built on the top of Tunturi, this small landscape hotel combines modern wooden construction with other materials in a new way. The hotel's surfaces are richly decorated with modern wood panelling from Siparila, a Jyväskylä-based company specialising in wood panelling.

- Asian tourists are attracted by modern wooden architecture, harmony and space. The Star Arctic Hotel was designed to showcase clear, light wood surfaces. With Siparila's wide Aito interior panels, we created a harmonious and modern look for the hotel's interiors that showcases the natural beauty of wood and works seamlessly with the surrounding nature," says Matti Meskanen, the hotel's carpenter and one of the owners.

For Chinese travellers, wood as a building material is exotic, but it also represents naturalness. The wooden interior of accommodation alone can be an experience in itself for the Chinese. For the Chinese, wood conveys ecological values and the purity of nature - things that are primarily sought after in Lapland. The building's technical solutions also support the principles of environmentally friendly wood construction, as the heating in the new hotel is provided by geothermal energy from the fells.  

NORTHERN LIGHTS, NORTHERN LIGHTS AND NORTHERN LIGHTS

Today's Chinese traveller is more affluent and has a desire to experience something new and authentic. Finnish Lapland is seen by the Chinese as a safe destination offering unique natural experiences. Snow, Northern Lights and a quiet wilderness landscape are Lapland's trump cards in the Asian market. Kang "Kaan" Xu, Marketing Manager of the Star Arctic Hotel, knows the wishes of Chinese tourists like the back of his hand.

- A tourist's three main wishes for their trip to Lapland are the Northern Lights, the Northern Lights and the Northern Lights. All Star Arctic Hotel accommodation has a glass skylight or a picture window overlooking the northern sky, where the northern lights blaze at night. From all the hotel's rooms you can admire a unique mountain landscape stretching out into infinity.

Photos related to the article can be found here (photos: Juha Kauppinen):

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1MJiR3IVL-RHgN1X4Nc-koyRCJaMx7yh5

For more information:
Sinikka Huhta-Aho
Siparila Oy
sinikka.huhta-aho@siparila.fi
+358 44 3334616

Matti Meskanen
Star Arctic Hotel
Ylämajantie 1
99830 Saariselkä
+358 40 0391017

FURTHER INFORMATION:

Siparila is a Finnish family business founded in 2003 that manufactures exterior and interior cladding panels, mouldings and glue boards made of real wood for homes and public spaces. Siparila develops wood solutions that save time and overall costs for builders by making wood products completely ready for finishing in the factory. Siparila's customers include construction companies, hardware stores, architects and self-builders. Siparila's factories are located in Vaajakoski, Parkano and Kajaani. Siparila employs 100 woodworking professionals and has a turnover of EUR 20 million.