In Sweden I never hear anyone say they'll visit Lappland, it's more of a word you'd hear in geography class. People usually say that they'll visit a specific city, village or mountain chain, or just that they're going north or to fjällen ("the mountains"). It's probably different in Finland.
I'd say Sápmi is a bit like that too, you don't really say that you'll travel to Sápmi. Since a lot of non-Sámi people live in Sápmi too, you probably only refer to it as Sápmi when talking about specific Sámi villages or things like reindeer herding regions, or politics.
It's very common to refer to specific cities, villages and mountain chains instead. For example I've been to Vilhemina, which is in Sápmi but I wouldn't say that I'll visit Sápmi if I go to Vilhelmina, since most people who live in Vilhelmina aren't Sámi. So it's a bit of a case to case thing.
@pomelosims.bsky.social, how does this work in Finland?
We either say "Lappi" or the names of specific places. Here's an interesting essay about this topic if you're interested. petralaiti.com/2025/01/14/w...
This is so well written, it's how I see it too, but in more details of course, since the author is Sámi. I always feel sad when I hear about people visiting Sápmi through tourist companies who profit on all kinds of things. There are more respectful ways to visit.
The situation seems to be the same for all indigenous peoples. Or at least in Taiwan, there are similar problems, that it's mainly Han people profiting on tourism to indigenous areas.
That was an interesting read! I also understood what she was saying about how people who use the word “Lapland” are most likely to be ignorant on Saami issues. Because when I heard ppl use that word and discuss going there, it did sound like some fairytale tourist destination just like she said.