Industry: Tourism

Vuokatti 2040 Master Plan Investment Opportunities

Located in the heart of Arctic Lakeland Finland, Vuokatti is one of Finland’s leading year-round resorts, offering unparalleled opportunities for tourism investors and operators. The ambitious Vuokatti 2040 Master Plan envisions transforming the ski resort area into a world-class destination, dividing it into three interconnected centres: Northern, Western, and Eastern. This comprehensive development, spanning 2,500,000 sqm of land with 230,000 sqm of building rights for holiday accommodations and services, is designed to double overnight stays to 1.2–1.5 million by 2040 and boost international tourism tenfold. With municipal support and partial zoning already in place, this is your chance to invest in a thriving ecosystem of high-quality accommodations, innovative services, and state-of-the-art infrastructure.

Why Invest in Vuokatti’s 2040 Vision?

Strategic Growth and Division into Three Centres: The master plan creates three distinct centres to cater to diverse visitor needs—Northern (vibrant village core), Western (family-friendly gateway), and Eastern (tranquil premium retreat)—ensuring year-round appeal and balanced development.

Massive Infrastructure Enhancements: Investments include 7 new ski slopes, 4 new lifts, and 3 renewed lifts across the centres, plus a new train station for direct resort access. Estimated costs for ski infrastructure range from €12–15 million per centre, totalling over €42 million, alongside railway electrification at €10–15 million.

Prime Accessibility: Just 30 km from Kajaani and 35 minutes from Kajaani Airport, Vuokatti is reachable from major cities (Helsinki: 7 hours, Oulu: 2.5 hours, Rovaniemi: 4.5 hours). From 2025, nearly 20 direct charter flights from the Netherlands, UK, and Spain ensuring strong and growing visitor demand.

Sustainability Focus: Holding Sustainable Travel Finland (STF) certification, Vuokatti prioritizes eco-friendly practices, aligning with global trends and attracting environmentally conscious visitors and investors.

Skilled workforce availability: The strong educational presence in Arctic Lakeland Finland supports tourism with a steady supply of trained professionals.

Ideal climate: Balanced climate with no extreme heat or cold, ensuring comfortable conditions for year-round tourism.

Proven Economic Impact: With over 500,000 annual visitors and €93 million in visitor spending (2023), Vuokatti offers strong occupancy rates (58%) and RevPAR (€62). Projected €700 million in tourism investments from 2025–2040 promise attractive returns.

Ready-to-build opportunities: A valid zoning plan in part of Vuokatti allows for immediate development, reducing planning risks and delays.

Key Investment Opportunities Across the Master Plan

The Vuokatti 2040 Master Plan opens doors for investors in accommodations, services, and infrastructure. Highlights include:

• Accommodations Expansion: Develop 3–6 new hotels (440 rooms total) and 2,500 holiday apartments, plus 1,250 timeshare villas and 1,250 private chalets. Opportunities span boutique hotels, spa resorts, and family apartments across the three centres.
• Innovative Tourism Services: Create retail, dining, and activity hubs, including ski rentals, wellness centres, and event spaces, leveraging Vuokatti’s 190 km of cross-country trails and year-round activities.
• Infrastructure Partnerships: Collaborate on ski slopes, lifts, and the new travel centre with commercial spaces (1,500 sqm) and self-service accommodations (2,500 sqm).
• Flexible Models: Options for land purchase, leasing, or phased developments, with early engagement allowing input into planning and infrastructure.

Visit Vuokatti/DMO website for detailed master plan overview to explore specific opportunities in each centre.

Vuokatti: A Track Record of Success

Vuokatti’s innovative legacy includes Holiday Club Katinkulta (Nordic’s top spa resort), SuperPark (global indoor activity chain born in 2012), and Vuokatti Sport Olympic Training Center (Scandinavian winter sports hub). This foundation, combined with the master plan’s vision, ensures a secure and high-potential investment landscape.

Next Steps

Join us in realizing Vuokatti’s 2040 vision. Engage early to influence developments and secure prime opportunities in this expanding tourism powerhouse. Contact our team for discussions or additional details.

Private Sector Opportunities

From time to time there can be opportunities in the ownership of the private sector. Information can be subject to Non-Disclosure agreement. Please contact Invest in Kainuu to register to receive this information.

Private land owners, Operating Finnish companies and construction companies have the opportunity to register their off plan investment opportunities with Invest in Kainuu. There are key criteria that must be satisfied to be included on this page.

There is also the possibility to submit an investment opportunity to us, along with an executive summary and some degree of pre-feasibility material for matching with potential investors.

Potential investors may register their interest to receive off-plan investment opportunities from Invest in Kainuu.  (Subject to the criteria determined by the case owner).