ROVANIEMI, Finland (AP) — Christmas is in full swing in Finnish Lapland, where venue operators happily report that visitors have returned in numbers approaching pre-pandemic levels. Tourists from elsewhere in Finland and abroad come to revel in the festive spirit at the sprawling Santa Claus Village theme park, take a reindeer or husky sleigh ride and if they are lucky, glimpse the Northern Lights. Having survived a wretched 2020, many businesses on the edge of the Arctic Circle see this season as a “turning point.” How long the winter fun will last is uncertain as the omicron coronavirus variant leads to new travel restrictions, test requirements and quarantine measures.
Finland’s Christmas resorts in full swing but fear omicron
