Improving accessibility and visitors’ experience in Sweden

© Abisko National Park, Sweden

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In Abisko National Park, Sweden, accessibility is an important investment. Several new wheel-chair accessible trails have been created in the Park and a new information center was inaugurated.

The project, aiming at improving the visitors’ experience in the Park, involved investments in other areas, such as the illumination of Park trails – to ease visits during the dark period of the year. Despite the new illumination system, visitors will still be impressed by the Northern Lights, as the light bollards installed were designed to avoid light disturbance when gazing at the Aurora Borealis.

Visitors will also be surprised with a traditional Swedish “Jojk”, as they enter the E10 road tunnel that runs through the Park. The Park, with the contribution of the local artist Annica Waara, made a sound installation in the tunnel to harmonise the visitor’s experience in the tunnel, and by doing so, increase its number of users.

All visit needs a “Kodak-moment”, therefore the park carefully selected the “perfect-spot” in the landscape for the “golden crown”, the symbol of the Swedish National Parks. Besides, the sign posts in the Park have also been improved and increased, in accordance with the new design of the Swedish National Parks.

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The “Golden Crown” of Swedish National Parks © Abisko National Park

The project for improving the entrance and accessibility in the park lasted 3 years and was administrated by the County Administrative Board of Norrbotten. Several stakeholders participated  in the inauguration, that took place in September 2016, including the County Governor, the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency and the President of the same village of Gabna.

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Inauguration Ceremony © Abisko National Park