Aurora Safaris wins Major Tourism Award

The prize was presented at an award ceremony in Stockholm by Yngve Bergqvist, founder of the Icehotel in Jukkasjärvi and the first winner of the Grand Tourism Prize 30 years ago.

Aurora Safaris is run by Jonas Gejke and Naila Sher. They started with the world's first Arctic winter glamping and in ten years have expanded and now run three lodges with a range of nature and cultural experiences: Aurora Safari Camp, The Outpost Lodge and The Floating Safari Camp. The company has been recognized by the tour operators who sell Arctic Sweden.

The motivation for the award reads: "In an innovative and sustainable way, Aurora Safaris offers Arctic experiences that put Sweden on the world map. In an extraordinary way, they have involved the entire community in a joint development journey with many winners. They are a true role model and inspiration for other companies."

"Aurora Safaris has created an innovative and successful concept where they have not only developed their own company but actively worked to lift the whole place they operate in. They create the conditions for a vibrant countryside where Råne Älvdal is a place that retains and attracts new residents to live and work. This makes them worthy winners of the Grand Tourism Prize 2023," says Katrien Vanhaverbeke, President of the Foundation for Knowledge Promotion in Tourism.

The Grand Tourism Prize is awarded to a company or other organization that has contributed to the development of the tourism industry in a new, innovative and sustainable way. The prize is awarded for the 30th consecutive year by the Foundation for Knowledge Promotion in Tourism, whose purpose is to promote the development of knowledge in Swedish tourism. Tillväxtverket, The Swedish Agency for Economic and Regional Growth, is the principal of the Foundation for Knowledge Promotion in Tourism.

Other nominees for the Grand Tourism Prize were:

Hernö Gin, Västerbotten; Åre Destination, Jämtland Härjedalen; Wild River, Västernorrland; Vildriket, Gävleborg; Äventyrsgruvan Tuna Hästberg, Dalarna; Alma Löv Museum, Värmland; Matresan, Örebro County; The Steam Hotel, Västmanland; Noors Slott, Uppsala County; K-märkt, Stockholm County; Södermanland Museum, Södermanland, Borkhult Lapphem, Östergötland, Körsbärsgården,Gotland, Trakt Forest Hotel, Jönköpings län, Dalslands aktiviteter, Västra Götaland, Strömma Farmlodge, Halland, Huseby Bruk, Kronoberg, Böda Sand Beach Resort, Kalmar län, Sweden Rock Festival, Blekinge, Österlen Spring Trail, Skåne.

Lennart Håkansson

editor@northswedenbusiness.com