BSPC Rapporteur on Sustainable Tourism

The Baltic Sea Parliamentary Conference (BSPC) is pleased to present the seventh Report on Sustainable Tourism in the Baltic Sea Region, authored by the BSPC Rapporteur on Sustainable Tourism, Birgit Hesse , President of the State Parliament of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. Highlights and Focuses The 2024–2025 edition provides a comprehensive update on the latest political, strategic and practical developments in sustainable tourism across the Baltic Sea region. It highlights progress made in cross-border cooperation, innovation and climate-friendly travel – while underlining the challenges posed by climate change, overtourism and social inequality. A strong focus is placed on the Interreg Baltic Sea Region and South Baltic Programmes , which have seen more than 20 innovative projects launched or continued in this period – from the development of green hydrogen infrastructure in aviation (BSR HyAirport) and regenerative food tourism (BASCIL), to initiatives in cycling tourism such as Bike Across the Baltic and Baltic Biking Upgrade . The report also reflects current EU developments, including the European Declaration on Cycling , the strengthening of the Policy Area Tourism under the revised EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region, and the new EU Commissioner’s mandate for Sustainable Transport and Tourism . It examines current scientific research and offers a broad literature review on key issues such as heritage tourism, resource management, climate impacts, and critical reflections on growth models in tourism. Particular attention is given to social inclusion, the perspectives of young people and children , and the need for better indicators to measure progress. Through this work, the BSPC continues to promote a just transition towards a climate-neutral tourism sector , in line with the climate goals enshrined in the Paris Agreement and reaffirmed by the Glasgow Climate Pact. The BSPC expresses its sincere gratitude to Ms Birgit Hesse for her dedicated work and commitment to sustainable development in the region . 📘 You can access the full report here: We encourage all stakeholders to engage with the findings and join the ongoing dialogue on sustainable tourism in the Baltic Sea Region. For more background information on the BSPC’s work on sustainable tourism, visit the Rapporteur on Sustainable Tourism page.

The Baltic Sea Parliamentary Conference (BSPC) is delighted to announce the release of its latest report on sustainable tourism in the Baltic Sea Region for the year 2023-2024. This comprehensive report, authored under the diligent guidance of BSPC Rapporteur Ms. Birgit Hesse, President of the State Parliament of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, provides an in-depth overview of the current state and future prospects of sustainable tourism across the Baltic Sea Region. Key Highlights of the Report 1. EU and Regional Initiatives : The report details the various European Union initiatives that are currently promoting sustainable tourism, particularly in the Baltic Sea region. It emphasizes the role of programs like Interreg Baltic Sea Region, which is fostering innovation and sustainability through cross-border cooperation. 2. Impact of Climate Change : A significant portion of the report focuses on the challenges posed by climate change, including the warming of the Baltic Sea and its impact on tourism. The proliferation of bacteria due to rising sea temperatures, which affects public health and tourism, is addressed, alongside the need for sustainable environmental practices. 3. Innovative Tourism Projects : The report showcases numerous innovative projects that are helping to reshape tourism in the region. These include initiatives like the Baltic Sustainable Boating 2030 project, which aims to transform the Baltic Sea region into a leading destination for sustainable leisure boating, and the “Bike Across the Baltic” project, promoting cycling tourism as a climate-neutral travel option. 4. Economic and Social Impact : Beyond environmental concerns, the report also delves into the socio-economic aspects of tourism. It explores the potential of rural and roots tourism to drive economic diversification, preserve cultural heritage, and sustain local communities, particularly in the face of urbanization and depopulation. 5. Policy Recommendations : The BSPC’s commitment to fostering sustainable tourism is reflected in its policy recommendations, which call for the continued development of sustainable, resilient, and innovative tourism practices. The report also supports the transition to green and digital tourism as a means to enhance the sector’s resilience post-COVID-19. Strategic Vision for the Future The 2023-2024 report aligns with the BSPC’s broader vision of promoting sustainable development across the Baltic Sea Region. It underscores the importance of collaboration between regional, national, and EU-level stakeholders to achieve the dual goals of environmental sustainability and economic resilience in the tourism sector. As part of this strategic vision, the BSPC welcomes initiatives that address both the immediate and long-term challenges of sustainable tourism. These include addressing the impacts of climate change, fostering innovation in tourism offerings, and ensuring that tourism remains a driver of socio-economic development in the region. Conclusion The BSPC’s report on Sustainable Tourism in the Baltic Sea Region is an essential resource for policymakers, industry stakeholders, and the wider public interested in the sustainable future of tourism. It not only provides a comprehensive overview of the current landscape but also offers actionable insights and recommendations for the continued growth and sustainability of the tourism sector in the Baltic Sea Region. The full Report can be downloaded here and on the Rapporteur’s webpage . We encourage all stakeholders to engage with the findings and join the ongoing dialogue on sustainable tourism in the Baltic Sea Region.

The BSPC Rapporteur on Sustainable Tourism, Ms Birgit Hesse, President of the State Parliament of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, has published her comprehensive 2022 –2023 Report on Developments in Sustainable Tourism. This fifth BSPC Report on Sustainable Tourism in the Baltic Sea Region follows the established tradition. It provides an overview of the region’s recent political trends and projects connected to sustainable tourism. In addition, it presents the main developments in sustainable tourism, informs about the core meetings and events of the past two years, and contains prospects and outlooks. The introduction provides comparative figures on the development in this policy field. It includes information on the current and further impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine on the tourism sector and further crises. In this respect, it serves as a basis for discussing tourism development in the Baltic Sea region, considering the ongoing effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and the current and future challenges but also offers a reflection on the prospects aiming at raising the sustainability and resilience of Baltic Sea tourism in the future. The report can be downloaded here and on the Rapporteur’s webpage.

The BSPC Rapporteur on Sustainable Tourism, Ms Birgit Hesse, President of the State Parliament of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, has published her comprehensive Report 2020 on Developments in the Field of Sustainable Tourism. In addition to the respective speech during the digital 29 th Baltic Sea Parliamentary Conference on 24 August 2020, this report provides a detailed overview of the recent developments, events, projects and publications on sustainable tourism in the Baltic Sea region. The tourism industry worldwide has been among those economic sectors which have been hit the hardest by the COVID-19 pandemic and its effects. This report provides for the first time comparative figures on the recent development in this policy field for the parliamentary work in the Baltic Sea Region. In this respect, it is currently a unique basis for the discussion of the development of tourism in the entire Baltic Sea region, taking into account the COVID-19 pandemic – especially for the forthcoming conferences which will discuss this topic in the autumn of this year. The report can be downloaded here and on the Rapporteurs ’ webpage.