Tourism in Sweden comprised a relatively small part of the Swedish economy in 2011 at 2.9% of the country's GDP; at this time, tourism generated 264 billion Swedish krona, 98.8 billion of which was foreign-visitor expenditure in Sweden. 7.1% of Swedish household income is spent on domestic tourism.
Lapland is the largest and northernmost region of Finland. The 21 municipalities in the region cooperate in a Regional Council. Lapland borders the region of North Ostrobothnia in the south. It also borders the Gulf of Bothnia, Norrbotten County in Sweden, Troms and Finnmark County in Norway, and Murmansk Oblast and the Republic of Karelia in Russia. Topography varies from vast mires and forests of the South to fells in the North. The Arctic Circle crosses Lapland, so polar phenomena such as the midnight sun and polar night can be viewed in Lapland.
The wilderness areas of Finland are remote areas which are not strictly nature reserves. The areas were set up in 1991 to preserve their wilderness character, the Sami culture and their natural form of livelihood. There are 12 such areas, all of which are located in northern Lapland. The reserves cover an area of 14,890 square kilometres (5,750 sq mi). All the reserves are managed by the Metsähallitus.
Korvatunturi is a fell in Lapland, on the border between Finland and Russia. Its Finnish part is within Urho Kekkonen National Park in the municipality of Savukoski. In Finnish the name Korvatunturi means "Ear Fell", referring to the mountain's distinctive profile.
Metsähallitus (Finnish) is a state-owned enterprise in Finland.
Oulanka National Park is a national park in the Northern Ostrobothnia and Lapland regions of Finland, covering 270 square kilometres (104 sq mi). The park was established in 1956 and was expanded in 1982 and 1989. It borders the Paanajärvi National Park in Russia. The first inhabitants in the area were Sami people from Lapland who lived here until the end of the 17th century, which was when they had to give way to Finnish settlers. Although hunting, fishing and later farming was the primary occupation of the people who lived there, today the most notable activity in Oulanka is tourism. From the 1930s, the Finnish Tourist Association kept boats on the river and renovated the wooden cabins found across the park for accommodation purposes. These cabins can be used free of charge by any hikers in the area, given that they follow some basic guidelines and rules regarding the state of the cabins, the wood supply, and protecting the surrounding nature.
Pallas-Yllästunturi National Park is Finland's third largest national park and it covers an area of 1,020 square kilometres. The national park is located in Western Lapland in the municipalities of Enontekiö, Kittilä, Kolari and Muonio. The landscape of Pallas-Yllästunturi National Park is dominated by a chain of fells stretching for approximately 100 km and the taiga forests in the boreal forest zone. In terms of visits, Pallas-Yllästunturi National Park is Finland's most popular national park. In 2019, the visitor counters recorded 561,200 visits.
Øvre Pasvik National Park is located in the southeastern part of the Pasvikdalen valley in southern Sør-Varanger Municipality in Finnmark county, Norway. Covering an area of 119 square kilometers (46 sq mi), the national park is dominated by Siberian-like taiga consisting of old-growth forests of Scots pine, shallow lakes and bog. Proposals for a national park in Øvre Pasvik were first launched in 1936, but the park was not created until 6 February 1970. It originally covered 66 square kilometers (25 sq mi), but was expanded on 29 August 2003. Øvre Pasvik is part of Pasvik–Inari Trilateral Park along with the adjacent Øvre Pasvik Landscape Protection Area, the joint Norwegian and Russian Pasvik Nature Reserve, and Finland's Vätsäri Wilderness Area.
The Käsivarsi Wilderness Area is the second-largest wilderness reserve in Finland. It was established in 1991 like all the other 11 wilderness areas in Lapland. Its area is 2,206 square kilometres (852 sq mi). It is the most popular wilderness area in Finland, by number of visitors. It is governed by Parks & Wildlife Finland.
The Vätsäri Wilderness Area is located along the northeastern shore of Lake Inari in Inari, northern Finland, stretching all the way to the Finland–Norway border. The landscape is dominated by taiga forests of Scots pine, bog and bodies of water. The northeastern part rises as a treeless fell ridge. Vätsäri is one of twelve wilderness areas in Lapland and covers an area of 1,550 square kilometers (600 sq mi). The wilderness has one marked trail and a few cabins. The reserve is under the management of Metsähallitus and was established with the other wilderness reserves in 1991. It is part of Pasvik–Inari Trilateral Park along with Øvre Pasvik National Park and Øvre Pasvik Landscape Protection Area in Norway, and the joint Norwegian–Russian Pasvik Nature Reserve.
The North Vidzeme Biosphere Reserve(NVBR) (Latvian: Ziemeļvidzemes biosfēras rezervāts) is the only biosphere reserve in Latvia, located in the northern Vidzeme region in north-western Latvia along the border with Estonia. The reserve includes varied natural and semi-natural habitats in primal and traditional landscapes. NVBR includes 25 nature reserves, one nature park and two marine protected territories.
Kevo Strict Nature Reserve is a strict nature reserve located in Utsjoki, northern Lapland, Finland. It was established in 1956 and covers 712 square kilometres (275 sq mi).
Malla Strict Nature Reserve is a strict nature reserve located in Lapland, Finland. The area has been protected since 1916 and was declared a strict nature reserve in 1938. It encompasses 30 square kilometres (12 sq mi) and is managed by Metla. There is a trail in the park, access to this has to be separately organized. Most of the species found here can also be found on various places around Saana fell, which is accessible.
Värriö Strict Nature Reserve of Lapland, Finland, was established in 1981. Moving within the natural park happens under license. In the area there is a research station and the only way to go there is by trail. Field studies are carried out to investigate reindeer herding and predators, such as wolves and wolverines.
Runkaus Strict Nature Reserve is in Lapland, Finland. This flat wetland and forest reserve has no trails as they would likely disappear during the next spring.
Pisavaara Strict Nature Reserve is a strict nature reserve located in Lapland, Finland. This varied reserve includes the southernmost arctic biotope in Finland, as well as totally unmanaged forests of both southern and northern Finnish types. There is no public access.
Sompio Strict Nature Reserve is a strict nature reserve located in Lapland, Finland. The primary objective is to preserve forest, fjeld and mire nature. The core of the strict nature reserve is formed by the Nattastunturit Fjelds. Roaming in the reserve is allowed only along marked trails.
Lapland Nature Reserve is a Russian zapovednik in Murmansk Oblast, Russia, above the Arctic Circle. Officially established in 1957, the reserve protects an area of 2,784 km2 (1,075 sq mi) to the northwest of Lake Imandra, including 86 km² of inland water. The terrain is mountainous tundra and northern taiga. Since 1985 the zapovednik has been designated by UNESCO as a biosphere reserve. The name refers to the cultural area of Lapland, now preferably called Sápmi.
Kogelberg Nature Reserve is a nature reserve of 3,000 ha comprising the Kogelberg Mountain Range, to the east of Cape Town, South Africa.
