Lappish Sled Dog Entrepreneurs' Association

Lappish Sled Dog Entrepreneurs' Association

In 2012, leading Lappish mushing businesses founded an association to give sled dog entrepreneurs a common voice on welfare, quality and sustainability.

Koiravaljakkoyrittajat ry. On July 12th 2012, many of the foremost entrepreneurs in the sled dog business gathered in Yllas to establish the Lappish Sled Dog Entrepreneurs' Association. Mushing is one of Finnish Lapland's biggest tourist attractions, and through this new association its entrepreneurs gained a common voice to promote the national and international profile of this vital segment of the tourist market.

  • Founded July 12th 2012 in Yllas by leading Lappish mushing businesses
  • President: Pasi Ikonen, manager of Hetta Huskies and CAPE Lapland
  • Based in Rovaniemi
  • Lapland tourism contributes more than EUR 400 million annually to the region's economy
  • Aims to grant a husky quality mark and link welfare to sustainable environmental practice

Why set up the association?

The association aims to drive the development of sled dog businesses on dog welfare and business quality standards, always linking these to sustainable environmental practices. For Lappish sled dog businesses to be sustainable themselves, it aims to lead cooperation between all stakeholders in Lapland's wilderness trails and natural resources - local authorities, local residents, reindeer herders and other tourism-related businesses.

Pasi Ikonen, the group's president, said: 'As independent business operators we each, individually, have no voice in the area's development. However, as a unified body representing the sled dog business and, in turn, the continued development of tourism in Lapland, we hope to be able to make our needs and concerns heard at a local and national level.'

Editors' notes

Lapland's growing tourism industry contributes more than EUR 400 million annually to the region's economy, attracting new businesses and providing critically needed local employment. Sled dog experiences are a key attraction in this market and drive significant repeat visits. In other words, the continued growth of a vibrant tourism market in Lapland is directly linked to the health of the sled dog industry.

Association rules: mission & quality statement

Based in Rovaniemi, the association aims to promote cooperation between dog sledding businesses, to increase the national and international appeal and recognition of such businesses, and to promote and develop the general conditions for dog sled businesses with respect for sustainable environmental values and dog-welfare standards, in cooperation with local residents, businesses, authorities and other stakeholders.

To realise these goals the association may organise information and consultation opportunities, develop and maintain web sites and social network forums, coordinate industry statistics and research, organise training courses for members, promote employment for young people, cooperate with domestic and foreign tourism operators, and monitor and develop quality by granting a husky quality mark.