Santa Claus is coming to town
Santa Claus is coming to town
Representatives from the Finnish town of Rovaniemi, which is next to Santa Claus' home town, will be arriving in Israel in three weeks' time in order to take part in an annual tourism exhibition
Representatives from the Finnish town of Rovaniemi, which is next to Santa Claus' home town, will be arriving in Israel in three weeks' time in order to take part in an annual tourism exhibition held by the International Mediterranean Tourism Market (IMTM).
The exhibition, which will take place at the Tel Aviv Convention Center, is in its 22nd year.
Santa Claus (Photo: Shutterstock)
The goal of the Finnish delegation's participation is to promote tourism to Finland and Lapland, the home of Santa Claus.
"Tourism from Israel to Finland has been increasing over the last few years, especially since the introduction of flights from the country's flagship carrier, Finair," said Ulla Hakanen, the first secretary at the Finnish embassy in Tel Aviv.
Many Israelis take organized tours to Lapland every year, which include tours on snowmobiles, a journey on a sled pulled by huskies and a cruise on an ice-breaker.
"Our aim is to expand these visits," Hakanen said. "Direct flights to Rovaniemi will begin this year. Rovaniemi is Lapland's capital city and is very close to the North Pole. It's also five kilometers from Santa Claus' home town from which, according to tradition, he goes out every year at Christmas to deliver presents."
The group from Finland will also include tourism officials from other areas.
