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.
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 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.
In the 3ST project, three knowledge partners come together to research collaboration. The focus is on sharing knowledge about destination development, stakeholder motivation, and network models for value creation (Theory of Change). The network models will then be tested and evaluated in nine regional pilot projects within waste, energy, and water. These pilot projects will involve key players in the tourism sector, such as local authorities, small and medium-sized enterprises, and other stakeholders.
3ST aims to assist tourism stakeholders in piloting collaborative models and sustainable practices. The project will emphasize integrating multiple actors across the entire value chain and leveraging education, coaching, and collaboration to foster a holistic approach to sustainable tourism in the North Sea region.
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.
During the project, Visit Skåne will focus on water issues in collaboration with Simrishamn Municipality. In recent years, climate change has highlighted the need to strengthen groundwater resources, which are at their lowest levels precisely when the pressure from the tourism sector is at its highest.
Can we shift perspectives and instead see tourism as a driving force for sustainable development and water availability? Together with Simrishamn Municipality and the many committed stakeholders in the region, we are taking on this challenge!
Page updated 20 Aug 2024, at 12:57