Finland rolls out red carpet for larger snowmobiles

Three laws were changed in Finland on Friday to allow larger snowmobiles to run in the country from next Monday.

Anne Berner, the Minister for Transport and Communication, noted in a ministry release the importance of snowmobiles for the tourist industry. Saying the legislation so far as too restrictive, she said the amendment makes now things easier for businesses.

A class of "heavy snowmobiles" was added to the vehicles act. Their unladen mass will be 800 kg, which is 300 kg more than the current limit. They can carry four passengers instead of two besides the driver.

President Sauli Niinistö signed into law relevant changes in the vehicles act, driving licence act and cross country traffic act.

Sanna Kärkkäinen, the Managing Director of travel promotion agency Visit Rovaniemi said the new equipment will give additional opportunities "when practised safely".

Traditional snowmobiles rely on a combustion engine. Kärkkäinen told a Finnish language newspaper Lapin Kansa that a late innovation in the snowmobile sector is electricity powered snowmobiles. "This reflects the increased awareness of the environment."

The newspaper noted that husky-hauled safaris are the most popular in tourist demand now, followed by reindeer and snowmobile tours.