How was the past year for a local company in Rovaniemi? How much influence was there due to Covid-19? How did they manage the global pandemic and what did they do to handle it? And especially, how are they looking at upcoming seasons? Are they ready and preparing? These were all questions asked to ask to a Beyond Arctic, a local company situated in Rovaniemi, the capital city of Finnish Lapland.

Interview with Juho Uutela, founder of Beyond Arctic.

Story behind Beyond Arctic

Juho Uutela, the founder of company Beyond Arctic is originally from Tampere located in Southern Finland, but has been living in Rovaniemi for 8 years. Together with Annika (originally from Lapland) they were both living and travelling around the globe together. Until they ended up in Rovaniemi. They always had a passion for creating once-in-a-lifetime experiences for other travelers. Together with third business partner Juho Uurtamo they decided together to start a company and developing services in Rovaniemi.

The reason to start their own company is their background experience of already over 10 years in the tourism industry. Both of them saw the potential of starting something new combined with their passion for travelling and photography and to create offers that did not existed here in Rovaniemi yet before.

Juho told me that Beyond Arctic is the first photographic tour operator in Rovaniemi. The main goal of their company was always to create activities based on photographing, for example: northern lights photography and hunting tour was one of the first tours they developed in year 2016 and also the first of this tour existing in Rovaniemi.

Corona impact on local business: Beyond Arctic

Covid-19 also had an enormous impact in Lapland and especially the whole travel business have suffered a lot. Juho explained that last year was definitely the most difficult year in the history of Beyond Arctic. All the business ended in 1 week time one year ago in March. Beyond Arctic realized quickly that if they want to go through this whole crisis, the company had to start and develop something new. They started to analyze the strengths of their company and brainstormed what the possibilities were to create new services and products.

Last year, the local company decided to work more with different kind of photography- and video productions. The focus went from international market to the local and Finnish customer market. Beyond Arctic decided to still focus on this market since the international market is still totally frozen. Before the pandemic, they were only working a little with the Finnish market. If he had to put a number on it, 98% of the tourism side of the company was based on the international market and only 2% were Finnish customers.

Last winter, they mostly focused on the photography and video services and constantly developing new products and photographic based courses. In the city center of Rovaniemi, Beyond Arctic has a rental shop. Besides this, they put effort in developing a new kind of movie theatre in their office. They offer a private movie theatre, it is possible to rent. Before it was a space to give lectures in small groups about the northern lights.

What now?

Beyond Arctic wants to keep on focusing on the local and Finnish market. Juho and Annika are seeing potential also in this market, especially in the rental service. Also local Finnish people are keen to try new activities that Beyond Arctic can provide them. Besides the whole crisis, it is somehow pleasant to see that the domestic tourism has increased and that Finnish people from the South and Center of Finland find their way to Lapland. But at the same time, they are looking carefully to next autumn and winter season. Unfortunately, there is still a lot of uncertainty because nobody has given any ideas about the possibilities of travelling yet. Juho was happy to hear that the Finnish government was introducing an exit plan, however at the moment this plan includes mostly information about reopening local services, hosting events and hobbies for children. The tourism industry is still patiently waiting for the signal when they are getting included into the plans and if the country will open their borders for international travel. But it gives him a positive signal for the future that Finnish Government is working forward on a plan.

New opportunities in Tourism

Beyond Arctic says to have developed new products and services all year now. When the international travel side starts to open, Beyond Arctic will be there and will be even stronger than they ever were before. All the possibilities to book for autumn and winter time are already available online. They also have activities and services to provide for summer time, but it is still uncertain if there will be chances for international travels during summer. Juho and Annika are looking forward to the winter period and hopefully the international travel will be possible for winter season.

Beyond Arctic is definitely hopeful and will keep on looking at it positively. The local company hopes that there will soon come decisions and answers of how Finland will open again for travelers so it will be easier to react as a company as well. Their best scenario would be to get the answer before summertime so they can start hiring and preparing for the winter season.

The interview ended with a hopeful tone and they are more ready than ever to welcome travelers in Lapland!

⇔ By Claudia Martens ⇔