Policy Area Tourism
PA Tourism reinforces sustainable tourism development in the Baltic Sea Region.
Policy Area Tourism aims to reinforce the Baltic Sea Region’s cohesiveness through tourism.
The Policy Area Tourism aims to mobilise the full potential for sustainable tourism in the Baltic Sea Region by facilitating coordination with stakeholders through joint actions, workshops and communication. It provides a strong platform to reinforce sustainable tourism development, creates networks and strengthens the dialogue with stakeholders of the tourism industry and tourism education institutions to ensure competence development in the tourism sector across the Baltic Sea Region.
PA Tourism is currently coordinated by the Pomorskie Tourist Board, Poland and the Oulu Region, Finland.
Actions
PA Tourism’s actions include facilitating networking and clustering of tourism stakeholders, strengthening their tourism-related project initiatives and activities.
Transnational tourism development in remote and rural areas.
Sustainable Tourism development in remote areas (including remote regions, disconnected cities, archipelagos and islands), taking into account the protection of the environment and ecosystems, not only helps to spread the benefits of tourism in terms of expenditure by tourists, it also helps to create employment, a well-functioning infrastructure, a good living environment and other local support services as a result, which can help to slow down rural-urban migration in the Baltic Sea Region. This can help to create more resilient and sustainable communities, both in remote/rural areas and urban cities.
Investing in people, skills and technology in the tourism industry.
Training, modern labour markets, digital skills, and technological innovation are not only key drivers for socio-economic development and sustainable growth but also for more equitable and inclusive societies and for the well-being and personal fulfilment of its citizens. In order to work towards a sustainable future in the travel and tourism industry, the Baltic Sea Region needs to be prepared to enable new technologies and further invest in people’s skills, competencies and qualifications.
Protection and sustainable utilisation of cultural heritage and natural resources in tourism destinations.
Tourism has a unique reason to be concerned about the sustainability of the cultural and natural environment and thus holds the responsibility for its protection, owing to its dependency on the appeal of unspoilt landscapes and accessible local heritage. The idea of Action 3 is to encourage green/authentic/sustainable and environmentally friendly tourism and to promote a kind of tourism that is respectful of local identities, host communities and cultural heritage in the Baltic Sea Region.
The development of specific “green/sustainable” touristic offers and products, and greater investment in greener infrastructures (more efficient transport facilities, reduced air pollution, reduction of water pollution and consumption, energy and waste, recycling of natural resources, conservation of heritage sites and open spaces, etc.) should result in smarter and greener places, from which residents and tourists, can benefit all year round.