The festive season will be very different in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Lapland in the northern most part of Finland, famous for being the official home of Santa Claus, will remain open for travellers with scores of safety protocols in place.
Visitors may still meet Santa, although protocols will be in place. Image: Instagram / santaclausoffice
Finland will enforce new quarantine rules that come into effect on November 23, allowing in leisure travellers from countries where the coronavirus situation has eased.
There is no mandatory quarantine or testing for travellers from these countries on arrival in Finland.
Travellers from all EU and Schengen countries (including the United Kingdom) with infection rates above 25 per 100,000 people will be permitted. However, they will need to have proof on arrival of a negative COVID-19 test result no older than 72 hours.
Visitors from these countries will be placed in quarantine for 72 hours after which they need to take a second test. After a second negative COVID-19 test result, the person can move around freely.
If the visit to Finland lasts less than 72 hours, no quarantine or second test is required.
Christmas is key tourist season for this Finnish region, where visitors have the opportunity to meet Santa Claus at his official hometown in Santa Claus Village, Rovaniemi.
‘Christmas is definitely not canceled,’ says Sanna Kärkkäinen, CEO of Visit Rovaniemi. ‘This year will be different to previous years, but I’m sure that the travelers that do end up coming here will of course find huge enjoyment.
‘Together with the Lapland hospital district we’ve created a Covid-safe travel model. It’s a large network of tourism providers and destinations here in Lapland and everyone has been involved. We are very committed to operating in that way and of course that is one of our signals to tourists that we are doing everything to make tourism safe and secure,’ she added.
In 2020, Santa will be kept safe behind plexiglass and elves will maintain a safe social distance while wearing masks, reports CNN. Smaller groups will be allowed into Santa’s workshop at a time to ensure social distancing, and Santa won’t shake hands with any visitors.
‘We cannot guarantee for certain that Father Christmas or his elves will not be wearing a mask,’ says Alistair McLean, managing director of The Artisan Travel Company.
‘We believe after the incredible way everyone has adapted to the new normal of 2020, having a truly memorable, magical holiday to end the year will be incredibly rewarding — even with a couple of extra safety precautions.’
