Santa Claus’ ‘hometown’ is suddenly overrun by tourists – and the locals are protesting in the streets: ‘It’s out of control’

Overture has reached the “North Pole”.

A small town in Finland dubbed the “official hometown of Santa Claus” has been flooded with eager travelers this holiday season — and frustrated residents are adding them all to the naughty list.

Rovaniemi, the capital of Lapland and home to the Santa Claus Village theme park, has recently become a festive beacon for Christmas lovers around the world – unexpectedly attracting a million visitors a year.

“This is like my dream come true,” Elzbieta Nazaruk, a visitor from Poland, told The Associated Press. “I’m so excited to be here.”

But locals in the city of 65,000 are not feeling the holiday cheer, with hordes filling hotels and vacation homes that residents say are desperately needed for shelter.

“We are worried about the excessive growth of tourism. Tourism has grown so fast it’s out of control, photographer Antti Pakkanen, 43, who organized a rally in response to the overtourism trend, told AP.

“The rules need to be better enforced,” he insisted, citing laws against short-term rentals that are allegedly being circumvented.

In 2023 alone, remote Rovaniemi saw 1.2 million overnight visitors – nearly 30% more than the year before – and Rovaniemi Airport has become a major hub for holidaymakers, with 13 new destinations added.

“It’s Christmas time and we would like to see the Northern Lights,” said Joy, a visitor from Bangkok who did not give her last name. “Rovaniemi seems to be a good place.â€

The city is the latest in Europe to be hit by a massive influx of tourists, a post-pandemic phenomenon that has prompted neighboring countries to adopt policies that discourage travelers from visiting.

This year, Amsterdam halted the construction of new hotels in an attempt to control how many tourists can be accommodated in the Dutch capital.

Meanwhile, Greece wants to raise the price of travel to the Mediterranean oasis with tourist taxes in certain cities.

Ulla-Kirsikka Vainio, the mayor of Rovaniemi, is not buying advertising like the Grinch.

Landlords can make “good money” on short-term seasonal rentals, she told the AP. Tightening regulations would make it harder to accommodate the influx of yuletide travelers.

“Nordic is a trend,” admitted Sanna Karkkainen, CEO of Visit Rovaniemi.

“People want to travel to cool places to see snow, to see the northern lights and, of course, to see Santa Claus.”