Starting in March, Finland’s state forest agency Metsähallitus will increase inspections of tourism businesses operating in popular outdoor and protected areas in Northern Finland and Lapland.
The initiative aims to ensure compliance with existing regulations and prevent unauthorised commercial activities in state-managed nature areas.
Tour operators bringing paying guests into national parks, hiking trails, and other areas managed by Metsähallitus must hold a valid cooperation agreement with the agency. In addition, annual usage fees apply and are calculated based on visitor numbers.
According to Metsähallitus, these fees are regulated by law. However, not all operators are fully familiar with the requirements, and some have not yet complied. Businesses without proper agreements will not be permitted to operate in these areas.
The increased monitoring will target popular hiking and outdoor destinations in Northern Finland and Lapland. Currently, more than 700 tourism companies are registered with Metsähallitus. Around two-thirds conduct paid excursions within state-managed areas. The strongest growth is seen among guided outdoor activity providers in northern tourism hubs. Monitoring visits will be carried out in cooperation with regional wilderness and game authorities.
For international tour operators, this development underlines the need to take a closer look at how local services are structured and authorised. It becomes increasingly important to verify that local suppliers hold valid cooperation agreements with Metsähallitus and comply with the required regulations. Tour operators should also be aware of applicable usage fees and factor them into pricing and contracting discussions where relevant. In addition, early coordination of operational details with partners can help avoid complications once programs are on sale. Overall, the intensified inspections reflect a continued professionalisation of nature tourism management in Finland, which in the long term may result in clearer frameworks and more transparent cooperation conditions for international partners.
More on Metsähallitus.
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