Visit Skåne is part of the Interreg project 3ST, Speeding up Sustainability Skills in Tourism, where six countries in the North Sea region collaborate for shared expertise and successful methods for sustainable transformation in the tourism sector.
The project is funded by the Interreg North Sea Fund through the Swedish Agency for Economic and Regional Growth.
The purpose of the project is to accelerate the transition to sustainable systems for resource and energy efficiency at tourist destinations that experience periods of high visitor pressure. The project aims to equip destinations with the capabilities and skills to increase their resilience, which in turn can lead to a faster green transition. The project is grounded in cross-sectoral collaborations and the testing of new models for green destination development.
Tourism is one of the fastest-growing industries in the North Sea region, making a transition to more sustainable systems necessary. To achieve this, we need a completely new way of thinking.
The tourism sector encompasses everything that directly impacts or is impacted by tourism. The North Sea region welcomes 13% of all tourists visiting the EU, amounting to nearly 400 million overnight stays (source: Eurostat). This means tourism significantly affects the environment while playing a vital role in the development of communities, regions, and cities. The impact of tourism on local resources and climate change is considerable: UN Tourism (2019) estimates that tourism's greenhouse gas emissions will increase to 5.3% of the global total by 2030.
The challenges faced by municipalities and the tourism industry cannot be resolved by the efforts of a single entity—it requires cross-sectoral collaborations for quicker results. The model developed in the project is intended to be useful across various areas to help communities enhance their resilience and overall crisis preparedness.
The focus and objectives of the project align with Visit Skåne's strategic direction towards 2030 and have a direct connection to our roadmap, Skåne - where tourism matters. Tourism should be part of the solution to societal problems and contribute to sustainable growth in Skåne.
Visit Skåne is focusing on water issues in collaboration with Simrishamn Municipality. The pilot area is Simrishamn and Österlen – a coastal region where tourism's impact on water resources is already noticeable. In recent years, climate change has highlighted the need to strengthen groundwater availability, which is at its lowest levels precisely when the pressure from the tourism sector is at its highest.
The water issue is both urgent and complex in the region. We are exploring how tourism, local communities and ecosystems can coexist without placing a burden on each other.
We are building a local platform where stakeholders from different parts of society – such as landowners, municipalities, civil society and the tourism industry – meet, learn and collaborate. Through dialogue, joint workshops and practical testing, we are working towards tourism that is sustainable in the long term.
Are you a stakeholder in the tourism sector in Simrishamn and want to take the step towards a more sustainable destination? Do you work with water issues and want to contribute to establishing more wetlands? Or are you simply committed to sustainable development and see tourism as an opportunity to reach further? We would love to hear from you.
In Simrishamn Municipality, the population doubles every summer. At the same time, over two million visitors arrive, creating intense seasonal pressure on resources – not least water.
Despite the area being largely dependent on groundwater, measurements show that levels reach their lowest point precisely when the pressure is greatest: in August and September. Water is replenished again during autumn and winter, but the long-term trend is clear – the bottom levels are dropping year by year.
At the same time, the region is grappling with another reality:
Meanwhile, analyses show that today's financing systems for water measures are inadequate and difficult to navigate. This is a place where water can no longer be taken for granted – where every drop counts, and where conflicts over access, usage and responsibility risk growing. At the same time, the landscape holds potential: for rewetting, recreation and new ways of thinking about water as a resource.
Page updated 16 Jun 2025, at 10:38