Santa's Appeal is Recession-proof as Interest Doubles in Lapland Holidays

LONDON, October 15, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --

-Brits snap up festive family breaks as bright aurora and travel deals are on offer-

Twice as many families are looking for holidays to Lapland this winter, according to new figures from leading Christmas break provider SantasLapland.com.

In their ninth year of Lapland tours, the travel company has seen a 93 per cent year-on-year increase in interest, and Google trends data indicates that national searches for Lapland holidays have recovered to pre-2008 levels. Figures from the Finnish Tourist Board confirm that this is part of a wider trend; the country saw a jump of one million additional visitors between 2010 and 2011, and over the past decade the number of tourists has increased by 54 per cent.

Melvin Westlake, Head of Product for Santa's Lapland, comments: "Recession or no, children are only young once and parents want to make the most of this magical time. Families don't want to compromise on a trip to visit Santa, so they are looking for great deals that still offer quality experiences and we are happy to accommodate such incredible interest in trips to Lapland."

The surge in interest coincides with the best forecast for the northern lights in years as NASA reports that solar activity driving this natural light display may reach an 11-year peak. Santa's Lapland resort in Saariselkä is the northernmost in Europe, making it a prime location for catching the aurora borealis during holidays to Lapland.

Saariselkä will unveil another Arctic attraction this winter - the elves of Santa's Lapland are creating several traditional igloos for this year's Santa-seekers. After arriving via a reindeer sled ride through the woods, visitors will discover that these igloos contain an ice bar with ice sculptures and the Elf Wonderland Workshop, which features fun and games for children.

Westlake comments: "There is nothing like seeing a child's face light up at the sight of Santa in his snowy cabin, far from the hubbub of daily life. Santa's Lapland brings this magic to life, and we're happy to see twice as many families taking advantage of special deals like grandparent bonuses, early booking deals, child discounts, and free extras such as husky sled lessons and reindeer sleigh rides."

About Santa's Lapland:

Esprit Santa's Lapland are the UK's Number One tour operator to beautiful Saariselkä - the most northerly of Lapland's resorts, which nestles in a picturesque, unspoilt wilderness of gently rounded hills and snow-laden forests, 200kms north of the Arctic Circle.

Esprit's 28 years of experience in specialist family holidays guarantees that every detail will be taken care of, so join them for a magical visit to Santa Claus in his unforgettable Lapland home!

http://www.santaslapland.com offers online and telephone booking - details of 3 and 4 day Lapland holidays can be found on the website and in the brochure, which is available on request. Alongside details of our magical holidays, the site features a blog, travel tips, and a "Santa's Deals" section offering a grandparent bonus, early-bird discounts, and more.

For more news and offers from Esprit Santa's Lapland, visit Santa's Lapland on Facebook, follow @SantasLapland on Twitter and find inspiration for your Christmas breaks on the Santa's Lapland Pinterest account.