Santa's Cycling and Outdoor Trail for sustainable mountain biking
About this good practice
Santa's trail combines existing trails and infrastructure with new ones, aiming to improve the sustainability and durability of older trails.
There is a recognized need for new sustainable activities for both tourists and locals. Santa’s trail supports year-round tourism by connecting two major tourism attractions in Rovaniemi in a sustainable way.
The project addresses the increasing interest in biking, meeting higher expectations in terms of quality and diversity of supply as demand increases. Currently, the trails are worn and scarce, which justifies the need for this development. Sustainability is at the core of the planning and implementation of the trail, considering factors such as nature, safety, the local community and culture.
This project is being implemented side-by-side with another trail development project in the City of Rovaniemi, creating synergy between the two projects. These projects are part of the implementation of an ecosystem agreement between the city and the state and are included the Rovaniemi roadmap for cycling tourism. The initiative also aligns with the objectives of Innovation and Skills in Finland 2021−2027 programme which promotes e.g regional vitality and wellbeing, and is a good example of how ERDF have been used to promote sustainable sport tourism in Lapland.
The process involves City of Rovaniemi as the project owner and the contractors: construction supervision and route contracting have been outsourced.
Resources needed
Cost for building of sustainable trail is 263 900 € (EU-funding 184 730 €)
Evidence of success
The trail provides a fun and eco-friendly method to travel between Ounasvaara outdoor and sport area and Santa Claus Village.
Enhancing year-round visitation in the area benefits local businesses, particularly in Santa Claus Village.
The trail is simple and family-friendly. Based on mapping of local bikers’ and companies’ perspectives, it improves sporting possibilities and communal well-being.
The trail's development is consistent with regional objectives and agreements.
Potential for learning or transfer
The trail connects two major tourism attractions in Rovaniemi.
International sustainability criteria were applied in its construction. The trail's implementation prioritize sustainability, with each aspect approached carefully. Nature, safety and the local community have all been carefully considered throughout the process.
Economic sustainability is supported by long-term planning. Investments are concentrated at the beginning of the project, and significant costs are not expected to arise in the later stages
Communication with stakeholders during the process is critical. Involving local bikers and businesses, particularly during the initial development phase, ensures community engagement.
The procurement was conducted using a reverse procedure based solely on qualitative criteria. Quality requirements were defined for the work, and upon completion, the results are evaluated. The supplier is either awarded a bonus for high-quality results or a penalty for poor performance.
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Good practice owner
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