# Winter tourism developments in Finnish Lapland

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/winter-tourism-developments-in-finnish-lapland
> Updated: 2026-10-13T05:00:30.000Z. Sources: 14. Developments: 2.

The 2026/2027 winter season in Finnish Lapland is marked by preparations in both sports infrastructure and tourism accommodations.

In September, the Levi ski resort announced it would open its season on October 2, 2026. The resort is utilizing “snowfarming” to ensure reliable snow coverage for its 44 km of slopes. 

By mid-October, new lodging options are being introduced to support winter travelers. In Rovaniemi, the Santa’s Hotels group is launching Santa’s Hotel Noelle, while the Halo Riverside Resort in Vikäköngäs is scheduled to open 39 new glass igloos. Additionally, Aava Glass Igloos is establishing a presence on Ollerovaara Hill.

## Claims

- Finnish Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen has called on the EU to ban tourist visas for Russian citizens until the war in Ukraine ends. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- Finland has prohibited the issuance of non-essential tourist visas to Russians since 2022. (corroborated by 2 sources)
- Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo aims to include measures to limit Russian tourist visas in EU summit conclusions. (corroborated by 2 sources)
- Finland proposes banning Schengen visas for the close circle of Vladimir Putin. (single source)
- Finland suggests implementing Limited Territorial Validity (LTV) visas for Russian citizens across the EU. (single source)

## Timeline

### 2026-10-13: Finland urges EU to ban tourist visas for Russians

Finland is calling on the EU to ban tourist visas for Russian citizens until the war in Ukraine ends, proposing stricter guidelines and territorial restrictions to counter hybrid threats.

12 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/finnish-lapland-to-debut-new-accommodations-for-20262027-winter-season

### 2026-09-20: Levi ski resort to open 2026 season in early October

Levi ski resort in Lapland, Finland, will open its 2026/2027 season on October 2 using snowfarming techniques to ensure early coverage for skiers and World Cup events.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/levi-ski-resort-to-open-2026-season-in-early-october

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Cite as: Winter tourism developments in Finnish Lapland. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/winter-tourism-developments-in-finnish-lapland