The airline, Fly Car, plans to build the village in the Arvidsjaur municipality, roughly 300 kilometres south of Jukkasjärvi where Sweden’s iconic Ice Hotel is built every winter.

Michael Fender, head of the company, explains that as the airline has been flying between Arvidsjaur and Germany since 1999, it was time to add something for the visitors.

“We have had 10,000 visitors each year, and many of them have been making the trip from here to Kiruna to see the Ice Hotel,” he told The Local.

“The trip takes them two days, and we thought we could save time and keep them in Arvidsjaur by building our own igloo village… similar to the ones that already exist in the Swiss Alps.”

Fender explains that the igloos are not intended to be competition for the Ice Hotel, rather something new and separate.

“The Ice Hotel in Kiruna is wonderful. It’s iconic, it’s famous… but we just wanted to add our own highlight here in Arvidsjaur,” he said.

“Plus ours will be made out of snow, not ice!”

Meanwhile, the Ice Hotel is unworried about the potential competition, with this year marking the 23rd time the hotel will be rebuilt.

“We wish them good luck,” said press officer Helena Sjöholm to The Local.

“We’re not worried – it’s not the first time someone’s made a copy of the Ice Hotel.”

Oliver Gee

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