The Baltic Institute of Finland is involved in a new project on sustainable tourism in cooperation with Visit Tampere and Tampere University. Sustainable Tourism Mobility -project cooperates with several tourism attractions and companies in Tampere Region to develop service concepts that support visitors to utilise low-carbon mobility options, such as public transport or own/rented bicycles for their travelling to tourist attractions.

Mobility is a major sustainability challenge and cause of the carbon footprint in tourism. At the same time, tourists increasingly value low-carbon sustainable alternatives when selecting tourism services and destinations. Sustainable mobility services that connect e.g. public transport and biking connections with cultural and nature experiences can be a significant pull in attracting both national and international tourists to the region.

The project will utilize examples of European sustainable mobility service concepts and practices as well as user-driven data and service design. In practice, a European good practice survey and thematic workshops on e.g. combined ticketing, sustainable trip chain and carbon footprint compensation models will be organized for the tourism companies and stakeholders.

A key element of the project is creation of a model for sustainable tourism mobility action plan that will be conducted with selected tourism attractions and companies. The action plans will include most relevant sustainable mobility activities, service concepts and indicators to measure their economic, social and environmental impact. In addition, 3-5 rapid experiments will be implemented based on the action plans.

The results will be disseminated nationally and internationally via tourism networks and Visit Finland’s Sustainable Travel Finland programme. The 2-year project is co-financed by the Council of Tampere Region, REACT-ERDF EU-funding.

Contact person at the Baltic Institute of Finland: Johanna Leino