Will your next holiday help grow local economies or push the locals over the edge? As visitor numbers soar, some Nordic travel destinations are pushing back. Our research on the social sustainability of tourism, takes a close look at the dilemmas that these places are facing, while offering strategies that create a balance between the tourism industry and local needs and resources.
This event brings together researchers, representatives from the tourism industry and local voices to explore the consequences of growing tourism.
Programme
| 13:00 Welcome and introduction – Anne Katrine Ebbesen, Senior Communications Advisor, Nordregio |
| 13:05 Research highlights – Águst Bogason, Senior Research Advisor, Nordregio – Maja Brynteson, Research Fellow, Nordregio – Lisa Rohrer, Research Fellow, Nordregio |
| 13:30 Panel debate: Tourism’s development dilemmas Tourism development fosters regional economic resilience, enhances infrastructure, and provides employment. This is something that is generally agreed upon, however it also comes with a set of challenges. But are the tourist booms also boosting the public sector needed to keep up with increased traffic, waste and healthcare? And if tourism keeps growing, how will the culture stay authentically local? We discuss the dilemmas of tourism growth in the Nordics with a panel of tourism experts and local voices. – Thordur Freyr Sigurdsson, Manager of Development, Association of Municipalities in South Iceland. Master of Sustainable Rural Development, University of the Highlands and Islands. SASS’s main activity is to advocate for the interests of residents and municipalities in South Iceland. – Sigve Olsen, Head of Economic Development, Vestvågøy Municipality, Lofoten, Norway. Sigve is the Head of Business Relations in Vestvågøy Municipality—one of the six municipalities that make up the Lofoten Islands. He also leads a working group connected to visitor risk management. – Kristina N. Lindström, Associate Professor, University of Stavanger. Holds a Ph.D. in Human Geography from the School of Business, Economics and Law at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden. Her research spans topics such as place development through tourism and events, tourism governance in the wake of society’s sustainable transition, and transdisciplinary research methods. – Andreas Skriver Hansen, Senior Researcher, Center for Regional & Tourism Research, Denmark. Ph.D. from University of Gothenburg, Uni for Human Geography, researching various tourism forms (e.g., nature-based, sustainable, regenerative) and outdoor recreation. Specialising in landscape studies, physical planning, and rural studies. He has also worked in peripheral and island geographies. |
| 14:20 Take-aways and closing remarks |
| 14:30 End of the webinar |
Register now by filling in the form below.
Read or download the report this webinar is based on via this link.
