A recent ruling by the Lapland District Court stated that a local tourism company, Harriniva, was held liable for a sledding accident involving a Dutch tourist. The court ordered Harriniva to pay over 60,000 euros in compensation after the tourist was injured while helping her child on a slope, where another tourist collided with her while using a sled with snowshoes.

The supervisory authority, represented by Jaakko Leinonen from the Safety and Chemicals Agency, expressed surprise at the court's decision. Leinonen indicated that they would need to review the court's reasoning more closely to understand the implications. The case has raised questions about the adequacy of safety measures and training for tourists at the company’s facilities, as the court found that the company’s guides did not adequately prepare tourists for the activity nor supervise them effectively during the sledding event, leading to the incident.

This ruling is notable as it marks a rare instance of a tourism service provider being liable for damages in Finland, with past cases being scarce, as pointed out by Leinonen. The case could set a precedent for future safety regulations and legal responsibilities for tourism companies, particularly regarding how they manage and supervise adventure activities for their clientele, highlighting the importance of rigorous safety standards in the tourism industry in Finland.