How collaboration can lift a community

When a group of companies join forces, it can boost an entire village, and eventually an entire region. Arctic Getaways is a clear example of this, where companies working together contribute to a sustainable tourism industry, even though the guests are often from far away.

The idea of Arctic Getaways was born out of a common insight among nine companies all targeting medium to high end tourists. At Treehotel, Sörbyn Lodge, Pine Bay Lodge, Brändön Lodge, Arctic Bath, Aurora Safari Camp, Sapmi Nature Camp, Arctic Retreat and The Outpost, they see each other as colleagues rather than competitors.

“We realized that we could achieve much more together,” says Graeme Richardson, who runs Arctic Retreat and is one of the initiators of Arctic Getaways.

“By marketing ourselves as a whole destination, we not only benefit from each other’s strengths, but we also strengthen the entire ecosystem of subcontractors, from guides to dog mushers, to country stores and laundries.”

By coordinating marketing, transfers and staff, Arctic Getaways creates a holistic solution that benefits both visitors and the local community.

“The work we do can be seen as a complement to what other organizations such as the Swedish Lapland Visitors Board and local tourism organizations are already doing”, Richardson explains.

With long-distance tourists as guests

Alongside Arctic Getaways, Graeme Richardson works with Arctic Inbound. A DMC (Destination Management Company) that focuses on selling Sweden’s Arctic destinations to the global market. Here, too, they focus on the medium to high-end tourist segment and work intensively on packaging and selling the region internationally, including to the United States.

“We build relationships with tour operators around the world because long-haul travelers often stay longer, spend more money, and involve more local entrepreneurs during their visits.”

Arctic Inbound is committed to creating sustainable and long-lasting relationships with its customers, which in turn contributes to a stable tourism industry.

Attracting guests from across the Atlantic builds great value locally. Richardson explains that they are targeting guests who are genuinely interested in experiencing our culture and society. What’s more, they are big spenders who spend large amounts of money during their stay, so their economic footprint is significant. This also means that the actual number of visitors is relatively low.

“Instead of mass tourism, there will be fewer people spending more money. It also helps people in the villages, who are interested in the industry, to get jobs.”

A genuine interest in Arctic Sweden

For many of these guests, a visit to our Arctic region is more than just a vacation – it is an educational trip where they get to experience and understand the local community.

“Our guests want to see how we live, they are genuinely interested in our culture and our way of life”, explains Richardson. “This makes their stay here meaningful, both for them and for us. We work closely with local entrepreneurs to create experiences that are both exclusive and genuine. These guests engage the whole community and make a positive impact, both economically and socially.”

Arctic Getaway’s work is an example of what it means to build a vibrant community, where the economy, environment and culture are all strengthened through collaboration. By creating a shared ecosystem where businesses not only compete but support each other, they contribute to a sustainable community that can thrive in the long term. This reflects the idea of ‘thrivability’ as described by Michelle Holliday and others – creating communities that not only survive, but thrive through collaboration. By attracting visitors who genuinely engage with the local culture, this type of community contributes not only to a stronger economy, but also to a socially and culturally rich society, where people and businesses build a future of meaning and vibrancy together.