SUSTAINABLE TOURISM & RESPONSIBLE EXPERIENCES IN SANTA CLAUS VILLAGE

At Santa Claus Reindeer, which includes Santa Claus Reindeer, Mrs. Santa Claus Christmas Cottage and Lapland Restaurant Kotahovi, we run our business with a clear goal: to operate wisely, respectfully, and in ways that make sense – for nature, for reindeer, and for the people who live and work here.

We’re on the Sustainable Travel Finland path and following the Biosphere certification process, not just for the labels, but to make sure our everyday work truly matches our values. As a local family business in Santa Claus Village, we’re proud to work together with others in our region to build year-round tourism that’s honest, personal, and rooted in Lapland.

WE HAVE JOINED SUSTAINABLE TRAVEL FINLAND -PROGRAM

Santa Claus Reindeer (including Mrs Santa Claus Christmas Cottage and Lapland Restaurant Kotahovi) is proud to be part of the Sustainable Travel Finland (STF) program – a national initiative by Visit Finland that guides tourism companies toward more sustainable, responsible, and long-term practices. The program supports continuous development and helps ensure that tourism in Finland respects both nature and local culture.

In 2025, the our company will apply for the Sustainable Travel Finland (STF) label to officially recognize and honor its responsible approach to working with reindeer. By achieving the STF label, we aim to strengthen transparency and trust, ensuring that visitors experience reindeer tourism that is both authentic and respectful of nature and animal welfare. 

To learn more about our sustainability journey, feel free to talk to our team or reach out to us by email!

Our contact person on Sustainable Travel Finland program is Salla Tauriainen/ Marketing & Sales Manager, email: salla (at) www.santaclausreindeer.fi

Our commitment to sustainable tourism

Santa Claus Reindeer is a family-run company located on the Arctic Circle in Rovaniemi, in the heart of Santa Claus Village. Our roots lie in reindeer herding, passed down from father to son. Today, Janne Körkkö continues this tradition as both owner and reindeer herder, following the path of his parents, Ari and Irja Körkkö.

We honour the deep cultural and ecological traditions of reindeer herding – but we do so with a modern mindset and a strong desire to evolve. Our vision is to create a responsible, transparent and personal way of reindeer herding, one that respects the past while embracing the future.

We are guided by the Biosphere certification framework, which supports continuous improvement in environmental, social, and economic responsibility. This also forms the basis of our path toward the Sustainable Travel Finland label.

As part of our long-term commitment, we are also developing a new site: Taava Reindeer Farm, located in Janne’s home village. This second location will allow us to create even more immersive reindeer experiences in a rural setting – built from the ground up with animal wellbeing, environmental care and cultural continuity at its core.

This means:

• Keeping our practices in line with nature, the seasons, and the wellbeing of animals and people.
• Making careful choices to support local life.
• Using our platform to promote awareness, authenticity, and more sustainable choices.

Responsible travel experiences

Santa Claus Reindeer operates mainly in Santa Claus Village, one of the busiest tourism destinations in Lapland. We aim to show that responsible practices are possible even in high-traffic environments.

We focus on actions that support local cooperation, animal wellbeing, and respect for nature. Our goal is to offer visitors year-round, authentic experiences that also encourage more thoughtful ways of travelling.

In practice, this means:

• We work with local producers and suppliers, such as a reindeer meat producer, local fish provider, building material stores and small-scale resellers.
• We provide clear instructions for visitors arriving by public transport and encourage low-emission travel.
• We maintain our reindeer fences, trails, and structures ourselves, using traditional, low-impact methods.
• Our team also has strong hands-on skills: we regularly repair and maintain reindeer sleds, harnesses and other essential gear.
• Our staff knows the reindeer well and is always happy to share accurate and respectful information about the animals and reindeer herding traditions.

In Finland, nature and wellbeing are priorities – they’re part of our DNA. That respect for the environment, animals, and life itself is something we hope to pass on to every visitor who meets us and our reindeer.

Reindeer welfare in Finnish Lapland

At Santa Claus Reindeer, the well-being of our reindeer is at the heart of everything we do. We are committed to responsible and ethical reindeer care, ensuring they are treated with respect and kindness every day.

To name just a few of our practices:

✅ Each reindeer follows a work schedule with regular days off for rest.
✅ They receive veterinary check-ups yearly to ensure their health and well-being.
✅ We provide a varied and nutritious diet, tailored to their natural needs.
✅ Our reindeer live in a safe and spacious farm environment, where they can move freely.
✅ Reindeer training is done according to each individual reindeer’s will, comfort level and pace.

Caring for reindeer is a way of life for us, deeply rooted in tradition and responsibility. We continuously strive to provide the best possible conditions for them, ensuring their welfare now and in the future. 

More about how we care for our reindeer

Compliance with Animal Welfare Legislation and Official Guidelines
We work with local authorities and veterinarians to ensure the welfare of our reindeer at every stage of our operations. We follow Finnish animal welfare legislation as well as regulations governing the transport of reindeer. The animals receive regular health checks, necessary vaccinations, and veterinary care whenever needed. We are in contact with supervising veterinarians, and their guidance is part of our responsibility work.

Work Schedules and Ensuring Recovery
Each working reindeer has a personalized schedule that ensures clear tracking of working days and sufficient rest periods. In practice, this means each reindeer has 2–3 days off per week, during which they do not participate in guest programs. The workload is tailored according to the season and the individual’s capacity – both physical and mental recovery are our top priorities.

Feeding, Enclosure Conditions, and Individual Care
Our reindeer guide team knows each working reindeer individually. This allows for continuous monitoring of their well-being and quick identification of any changes. The animals are fed daily according to nutritional recommendations and have constant access to clean water. Enclosure conditions are designed to support natural reindeer behavior and provide sufficient shelter, space to move, and places to rest.

Our contact person on reindeer herding and well-being is Janne Körkkö/ CEO & Reindeer herder, email: janne.korkko (at) www.santaclausreindeer.fi

How to reach Santa Claus Village Sustainably

SANTA CLAUS VILLAGE IN ROVANIEMI IS EASY TO REACH USING PUBLIC TRANSPORT – AN IDEAL CHOICE FOR THE SUSTAINABLE AND RESPONSIBLE TRAVELLER

• Local bus number 8 runs year-round between Rovaniemi city center, the railway station, and Santa Claus Village. It’s a convenient and eco-friendly way to travel while reducing your carbon footprint.
• The Santa Claus Bus also operates between Rovaniemi Airport, the city center, and Santa Claus Village, making it simple for visitors arriving by plane to continue their journey responsibly.

Using public transportation is not only sustainable, but also supports local infrastructure and contributes to responsible tourism in Lapland.

For up-to-date timetables and details, visit Visit Rovaniemi – Getting Around 

PARKING AND CHARGING FACILITIES IN SANTA CLAUS VILLAGE

Visitors to Santa Claus Village have access to general parking areas for both cars and buses.

In addition, the nearby Shell Napapiiri service station offers charging points for electric vehicles as part of its services.

Our dear friend Santa Claus hopes that you too will have the chance to meet his reindeer. A brief encounter with a reindeer is good for everyone.

Our family has had reindeer for generations, dating back to the second half of the 19th century. We also have extensive experience in tourism.

Santa’s reindeer herd delights visitors year-round in our reindeer park, located in the heart of Santa Claus Village. We want to share the entire world of reindeer herding with our guests: the cultural traditions, respect for nature, and the nature experiences that come with reindeer work.

A few minutes of reindeer driving, and you’ll see that Santa Claus is right, as always. In the company of reindeer, stress and hurry are forgotten.

Santa Claus Reindeer Ltd. is a family business that includes the Santa Claus Reindeer Park, Mrs. Santa Claus’ Christmas Cottage, and Lapland Restaurant Kotahovi. We have been operating in Santa Claus Village in Rovaniemi since 2008.