tourism

Sanna Kärkkäinen says this February is one of the busiest on record for Rovaniemi businesses. (Uula Kuvaja / Yle)

Asian tourists flock to Rovaniemi in Finland’s Arctic

Yle News
Posted: Monday, March 2, 2015 at 15:35 — Last Updated: Tuesday, March 3, 2015 at 16:47
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This February the hotels of Rovaniemi, Lapland have been full to the brim with customers. Usually this many people stay

Canada Society Society (Canada)

Aurora tourism numbers on the rise in Yellowknife

CBC News
Posted: Tuesday, February 24, 2015 at 16:15 — Last Updated: Monday, March 2, 2015 at 14:08
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The Northern Frontier Visitors Centre in Yellowknife says tourism is on the upswing this year. “[In] September we were up 1,235

Empty beds at an Imatra hotel in eastern Finland. (Yle)

Business Business (Finland) Finland General

Number of Russian Christmas tourists to Finland plummets

Yle News
Posted: Thursday, February 19, 2015 at 13:38 — Last Updated: Friday, February 20, 2015 at 16:28
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Some 75,500 accommodation nights for Russians were registered in the past December. This is a drop of 52 percent as

CEO of Norwegian Airshuttle, Bjørn Kjos, says the issue will be solved within 24 hours if Norway refuses Russian airliners, like Transaero, to overfly Norway's airspace. This photo from Moscow Domodedovo airport. (Thomas Nilsen/Barents Observer)

Business Business (Norway) General Norway Special Features

Norwegian flies into aviation dispute with Russia

Thomas Nilsen, The Independent Barents Observer
Posted: Friday, February 13, 2015 at 16:52 — Last Updated: Tuesday, February 17, 2015 at 13:15
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CEO of Norwegian Air Shuttle, Bjørn Kjos, says Russian airliners should be denied to overfly Norwegian territory. His Dreamliner is

General Society Society (USA) USA

Iditarod restart in Fairbanks, Alaska has communities regrouping and preparing

Suzanna Caldwell, Alaska Dispatch
Posted: Thursday, February 12, 2015 at 19:28 — Last Updated: Tuesday, February 17, 2015 at 13:15
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The Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race is known for its highs and lows, and the decision to move the restart from

UTair at the airport in Naryan-Mar. (Thomas Nilsen/Barents Observer)

News

Economic crisis hit airlines hard in Russia’s western Arctic

Thomas Nilsen, The Independent Barents Observer
Posted: Wednesday, January 28, 2015 at 20:02 — Last Updated: Wednesday, January 28, 2015 at 20:05
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It will be a tough year for air companies flying in Barents Russia, including Transaero, UTair and Nordavia. UTair, with hub in

General Russia Society Society (Russia)

Russia requiring detailed travel itineraries from visitors

Thomas Nilsen, The Independent Barents Observer
Posted: Monday, January 26, 2015 at 15:15 — Last Updated: Monday, January 26, 2015 at 15:24
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Foreigners traveling to Russia must from today provide a specified pre-fixed route of places to visit. “This isn’t great for the

Environment Environment (Norway) General Norway

Russia: Murmansk takes measures to protect borderland peninsula

Atle Staalesen, The Independent Barents Observer
Posted: Monday, November 17, 2014 at 16:12 — Last Updated: Monday, November 17, 2014 at 21:35
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Coastal areas between Russia and Norway will be included in a new natural park, aimed at protecting local nature and

Environment Environment (USA) General USA

Active aurora forecast for Alaska this weekend

Laurel Andrews, Alaska Dispatch News
Posted: Friday, November 14, 2014 at 14:08 — Last Updated: Monday, November 17, 2014 at 21:35
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Active aurora borealis displays are expected to light up the skies over much of Alaska starting early Friday. According to

Finland General Society Society (Finland)

Finland: Time to take out the skis in Lapland

Yle News
Posted: Thursday, October 16, 2014 at 15:28 — Last Updated: Thursday, October 16, 2014 at 20:53
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As the weather cools, the first skiing tracks in Lapland are being laid down with artificial snow in Ounasvaara and

Narwhals pictured above in the Canadian Arctic. Their tusks can sell for several thousand dollars. (Kristin Laidre/NOAA/AP)

General Norway Society Society (Norway)

Tourists suspected after narwhal tusk goes missing in Svalbard, Norway

Jimmy Thomson, Barents Observer
Posted: Friday, October 10, 2014 at 15:11 — Last Updated: Tuesday, October 14, 2014 at 20:32
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A narwhal tusk has been stolen from Svalbard, a popular, protected Arctic tourist destination. The governor’s office has asked for

The nuclear powered icebreaker "Sovyetsky Soyuz" operates along the ice-covered waters of the Northern Sea Route. The vessel will probably be ready for service in 2016, according to Atomflot. (Thomas Nilsen / BarentsObserver)

Business Business (Russia) General Russia

Rosatomflot prolongs North Pole cruises

Trude Pettersen, The Independent Barents Observer
Posted: Tuesday, October 7, 2014 at 15:17 — Last Updated: Wednesday, October 8, 2014 at 20:06
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Rosatomflot, owner of Russia’s fleet of nuclear-powered icebreakers, has decided to continue bringing tourists to the North Pole as repairs

Skiing, snow-shoeing, Northern Lights, ice castles and other Arctic experiences will attract visitors to Finnish Lapland this season. (iStock)

Business Business (Finland) Finland General Special Features

Finland’s Lapland tour industry gears up for busy holiday season

Yle News
Posted: Wednesday, October 1, 2014 at 19:00 — Last Updated: Thursday, October 2, 2014 at 17:57
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It may feel like summer just ended, but it’s only six weeks until the Christmas flight season begins in northern

The Clipper Adventurer cruise ship shown in 2010. The cruise ship passengers were stranded in the Arctic for almost two days before being rescued by the Canadian Coast Guard. (Canadian Coast Guard / The Canadian Press)

Business Business (Canada) Canada General

Feature Interview: The environmental and social impacts of Arctic tourism

Eilís Quinn, Eye on the Arctic @arctic_eq
Posted: Friday, September 26, 2014 at 19:28 — Last Updated: Monday, March 19, 2018 at 13:03
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The changing Arctic climate has opened up business and economic opportunities in everything from resource development to shipping. Arctic tourism

The new Arctica hosts a four-star hotel with 186 rooms and a major business center. (Thomas Nilsen / Barents Observer)

Business Business (Russia) Russia

Hotel in Arctic Russia comes back to life after major facelift

Atle Staalesen, The Independent Barents Observer
Posted: Friday, September 19, 2014 at 19:53 — Last Updated: Monday, September 22, 2014 at 20:57
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After five years of renovation, the Murmansk landmark hotel reopens its doors. The owner of the building, the Azimut Hotel