BSPC RapporteurSustainableTourism 2024 25

Report on Sustainable T ourismin the Baltic Sea Region2024–202534YEARSBSPCThe BSPC Rapporteur’s 2024-2025Report on Sustainable Tourism in the Baltic Sea Region© Schwerin, July 2025T ext: Birgit HesseEditing: Evgeniya Bakalova, Georg Strätker and Bodo BahrPhoto: Landtag Mecklenburg-VorpommernLayout: produktionsbüro TINUSBaltic Sea Parliamentary ConferenceBodo BahrSecretary General+49 171 5512557bodo.bahr@bspcmail.netwww.bspc.netBSPC SecretariatSchlossgartenallee 1519061 SchwerinGermanyThe Baltic Sea Parliamentary Conference (BSPC) was established in 1991 as a forum for po-litical dialogue between parliamentarians from the Baltic Sea Region. The BSPC aims toraise awareness and opinion on issues of current political interest and relevance for the Bal-tic Sea Region. It promotes and drives various initiatives and efforts to support the sustain-able environmental, social and economic development of the Baltic Sea Region. It strives toenhance the visibility of the Baltic Sea Region and its issues in a broader European context.BSPC gathers parliamentarians from 10 national parliaments, 7 regional parliaments and 5parliamentary organisations around the Baltic Sea. The BSPC thus constitutes a unique par-liamentary bridge between the democratic EU- and non-EU countries of the Baltic Sea Re-gion. BSPC external interfaces include parliamentary, governmental, subregional and otherorganisations in the Baltic Sea Region and the Northern Dimension area, among themCBSS, HELCOM, the Northern Dimension Partnership in Health and Social Well-Be-ing (NDPHS), the Baltic Sea Labour Forum (BSLF) and the Baltic Sea States SubregionalCooperation (BSSSC).The BSPC shall initiate and guide political activities in the region; support and strengthendemocratic institutions in the participating states; improve dialogue between governments,parliaments and civil society; strengthen the common identity of the Baltic Sea Region bymeans of close cooperation between national and regional parliaments based on equality;and initiate and guide political activities in the Baltic Sea Region, endowing them with ad-ditional democratic legitimacy and parliamentary authority.The political recommendations of the annual Parliamentary Conferences are expressed in aConference Resolution adopted by consensus by the Conference. The adopted Resolutionshall be submitted to the governments of the Baltic Sea Region, the CBSS and the EU anddisseminated to other relevant national, regional and local stakeholders in the Baltic Sea Re-gion and its neighbourhood.3ContentI. Introduction ...................................................................................................................................... 4II. Main Developments in the Field of Sustainable Tourism.................................................................. 61.EU I nitiatives to Promote Sustainable Tourism ............................................................................................................... 61.1Revision of the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region Action Plan................................................................................ 61.2Policy Area Tourism.......................................................................................................................................................... 61.3Interreg Baltic Sea Region Projects contributing to PA Tourism: Programme 2021–2027........................................... 81.4Interreg South Baltic during the period 2021–2027..................................................................................................... 141.5European Declaration on Cycling and Cycling Tourism in the BSR........................................................................... 172.General developments in the BSR and beyond............................................................................................................. 202.1Warming of the Baltic Sea and proliferation of bacteria................................................................................................ 202.2Rising prices in the sector............................................................................................................................................... 212.3Promotion of tourism on IT platforms.......................................................................................................................... 213.Literature review on sustainable tourism........................................................................................................................ 223.1Energy and Resource Management............................................................................................................................... 223.2Sustainability and competitiveness................................................................................................................................. 223.3Social and Cultural Inclusion......................................................................................................................................... 243.4Indicators and Measurement Methods.......................................................................................................................... 243.5Heritage Tourism............................................................................................................................................................ 253.6Critical Perspectives........................................................................................................................................................ 253.7Tourism in crisis and the post-COVID context............................................................................................................ 263.8Mitigating Overtourism................................................................................................................................................. 263.9Conclusion..................................................................................................................................................................... 27III. Meetings and Events ..................................................................................................................... 281.S eventeenth Baltic Sea Tourism Forum (BSTF) on 1–2 October in Gdańsk ............................................................. 282.PA Tourism Steering Group Meetings November 2024 and May 2025..................................................................... 283.EuroVelo & Cycling Tourism Conference, 23–25 September 2024 in Viborg, Denmark.......................................... 294.Mecklenburg-Vorpommern Cruise Conference ........................................................................................................... 305.Fifteenth and Sixteenth Annual Forum of the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region 2024....................................... 316.Macro-Regional and Sea Basin Strategies Days 2025.................................................................................................... 317.Interreg Baltic Sea Region Programme Conference 2025............................................................................................. 328.SEArica Intergroup Launch Conference on 5 February 2025...................................................................................... 32Annex: A Selection of Useful Links ..................................................................................................... 33List of Abbreviations........................................................................................................................... 344 I. IntroductionI. IntroductionThe Baltic Sea Parliamentary Conference (BSPC) is shaping thepolicy in the Baltic Sea region (BSR) with a view to promotingecological, economical, social and cultural aspects of sustainabletourism.Following the final recommendations of the BSPC Working Groupon Sustainable Tourism for the 26th BSPC resolution and the es-tablishment of the BSPC Rapporteur mandate on sustainable tour-ism in 2017, this commitment was renewed in 2024.The present Report on Sustainable Tourism in the Baltic Sea Re-gion 2024-2025 – the seventh of its kind – is giving an overview ofpolitical developments, projects, academical literature and eventsin the field.The EU policy with regard to sustainable tourism is strongly influ-enced by a newly created EU Commission Directorate-General forSustainable T ransport and Tourism, lead by EU Commissioner Ap-ostolos Tzitzikostas. He announced that in his term of office, hewas going to promote a resilient and competitive tourism sector, inline with the EU Agenda for Tourism 2030.His focus lies on enhancing eco-friendly tourism strategies, and hismission letter states that he is supposed to contribute to achievingthe United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)and the agreed climate objectives, notably those set for 2030 and2050 (climate neutrality goal). The Commissioner’s task is also toreduce the administrative burden, like reporting obligations (by25% in general, by 35% for small and medium-sized enterprises(SMEs)), and to leverage the power of digital tools to deliver betterand faster solutions.Ms Birgit Hesse5 I. IntroductionSince his second working area is sustainable transport, his measures to increase the competitiveness of theEU’s transport sector and to promote decarbonisation solutions, such as the production and use of sus-tainable fuels and the development of charging infrastructure, will also impact on the tourism sector andvice versa.In the Baltic Sea region (BSR), the revision of the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region (EUSBSR) Ac-tion Plan has provided impetus for new cooperation initiatives and projects to support the developmentof sustainable tourism in the region.The BSPC will continue to follow the initiative on EU-wide multimodal travel. As it is stated in the 33rdBSPC resolution, emphasis will be laid on facilitating more interconnections in the Baltic Sea Regions.In view of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (1982), the Glasgow Climate Pact and the commit-ments of the Paris Agreement, governments, businesses and civil society shall further be mobilized tojointly accelerate strategic cooperation in climate change mitigation, the preservation of nature and bio-diversity, as well as the just transition towards a climate-neutral economy.For its part, the BSPC will continue following these developments based on its commitment to promot-ing sustainable tourism and climate-friendly travel in the region.Schwerin, 3. July 2025Birgit HessePresident of the State Parliament of Mecklenburg-VorpommernBSPC Rapporteur on Sustainable Tourism6 II. Main Developments in the Field of Sustainable T ourismII. Main Developmentsin the Field of Sustainable Tourism1. EU Initiatives to Promote Sustainable Tourism1.1 Revision of the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region Action PlanThe National Coordinators Group discussed in March 2024 the process leading to an updated EUSBSR Ac-tion Plan, which is planned to come into force in 2026. Policy Area Coordinators facilitate this planningprocess together with their Steering Group members from all eight EU countries bordering the Baltic Sea.1.2 Policy Area TourismThe Policy Area Tourism (PA Tourism) is a key initiative within the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region(EUSBSR), aimed at strengthening regional cohesion through sustainable tourism development. It focus-es on mobilizing the full potential of tourism in the region by fostering collaboration among stakehold-ers, including tourism businesses, public authorities, and educational institutions.PA Tourism facilitates coordination through joint actions, workshops and communication, creating aplatform for networking and dialogue. Its goal is to enhance sustainable tourism practices, support com-petence development in the tourism sector and strengthen project initiatives related to tourism.1The Pomorskie Tourist Board (Poland) and the Oulu Region (Finland) currently coordinate the PA Tour-ism, especially of the BSR. Central actions to enhance the sustainability of tourism and the developmentof competence within the tourism sector are transnational tourism development in remote and rural are-as, investing in people, skills and technology in the tourism industry as well as the protection and sustain-able utilisation of cultural heritage and natural resources in tourism destinations.21 https://eusbsr.eu/policy-area-tourism/projects/, access: 05/03/2025.2 https://eusbsr.eu/policy-area-tourism/, access: 05/03/2025.7 II. Main Developments in the Field of Sustainable T ourismPA Tourism Steering GroupA critical component of PA Tourism ́s governance structure is the Steering Group, which consists of rep-resentatives from key ministries and authorities across the BSR. These Members possess the necessary ex-pertise, mandate and resources to guide PA Tourism in accordance with EUSBSR requirements. TheSteering Group may also invite representatives, through consensus, from non-EU neighboring countriesor relevant organisations to participate as members or observers, fostering a more inclusive approach to aregional tourism development.The Steering Group does play a crucial role in supporting PA Tourism Coordinators (PACs) and in ensur-ing the effective implementation of policy initiatives. Their work includes:• guiding the development of the PA in general by policy discussions and by endorsing newobjectives, developments and operation formats, including flagships;• endorsing proposals to update targets, references, etc. that do not change the action plansubstantially, in close dialogue with the European Commission (EC);• ensuring linkages to relevant national and regional policy-making;• monitoring and evaluating the policy areas/ endorsing the work plans and annual reports onachievements for the PA, drafted by the PACs, and submission of these documents to the nationalcoordinators group (NCG) for information.3Organisations in the Steering GroupThe Steering Group is composed of institutions from various Baltic Sea countries. These include:4• DENMARK: Visit Denmark• ESTONIA: Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications• FINLAND: Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, Business Finland /Visit Finland• LATVIA: Investment and Development Agency• LITHUANIA: The Ministry of Economics and Innovation3 https://eusbsr.eu/policy-area-tourism/steering-group/, access: 05/03/2025.4 https://eusbsr.eu/policy-area-tourism/steering-group/, access: 05/03/2025.8 II. Main Developments in the Field of Sustainable T ourism• POLAND: Ministry of Sport and Tourism• SWEDEN: Ministry of Climate and EnterpriseOverall, the Interreg Baltic Sea Region Programme tourism projects play a vital role in fostering cooper-ation, sustainability, and economic growth in the BSR, making it a more attractive, competitive and re-sponsible tourism destination. Therefore, it could be helpful to provide an overview the 12 ongoing pro-jects supported by the PA Tourism and the Interreg Baltic Sea Region Programme for 2021–2027 (pleasesee section below).51.3 Interreg Baltic Sea Region Projects contributing to PA Tourism:Programme 2021–2027Interreg (European Territorial Cooperation) is part of the EU Cohesion Policy and aims at reinforcing thelatter. With a budget of EUR 392 Billion for the 2021-2027 period, cohesion policy is the EU’s main in-vestment policy. The mid-term review allows EU Member States (MS) to align their cohesion programmeswith new EU priorities.The area of the Interreg Baltic Sea Region Programme covers nine countries: eight EU member states (Es-tonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Germany, Denmark, Sweden, and Finland) as well as one non-EU coun-try (Norway). Projects are addressing four priorities: 1) innovative societies, 2) water-smart societies, 3)climate-neutral societies or 4) cooperation governance.There are currently twelve projects contributing to the EUSBSR PA Tourism (listed below):65 https://eusbsr.eu/policy-area-tourism/projects/, access: 05/03/2025.6 https://interreg-baltic.eu/projects/?period=2&c=pa-tourism, access: 30/05/2024.9 II. Main Developments in the Field of Sustainable T ourismProject title and description Priority ObjectiveLight in the DarkNovember 2023 – October 2026The project “Light in the Dark” helps small and me-dium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the tourism sectorcreate an off-season nature-based offer to attracttourists to rural and coastal areas of the northernBaltic Sea region all year long. The project has re-ceived a total budget of about 2.72 million euros.The European Regional Development Fund (ERDF)has been the highest contributor. You can read aboutthe latest events & webinars of the project on thelightinthedarkbsr website. Currently there are sevendifferent destinations, which the project tries to in-fluence. One example are the Åland islands.Innovative societies Resilient economies andcommunitiesBaltic Sustainable Boating 2030(BALTSUSBOATING 2030)October 2022 – September 2024The project involved six organisations from Poland,Sweden, Latvia, Finland, and Estonia. With a budgetof almost 0.5 million euro, it is considered a smallerproject of Interreg. The project aimed to create apan-Baltic cooperation platform to turn the BSRinto a sustainable and competitive leisure boatingdestination. It was a follow-up of the Baltic Sustain-able Boating project, which concluded in March2022 and was financed by the Swedish Institute. Theproject was supported by the Council of the BalticSea States (CBSS) and primarily funded by theERDF . Water-smart societies Blue economyBIKE ACROSS THE BALTIC (BAB) –IMPROVING BICYCLE TOURISM AROUNDTHE BALTIC SEAAugust 2023 – July 2025The project BAB helps public authorities across theregion, gathering Finnish, Swedish, Polish and Esto-nian partners, to harmonise infrastructure develop-ment of the Baltic Sea Cycle route and promote cy-cling tourism in the region. Categorized as a smallerproject, it has been granted 0.5 million euros, mostlyby the ERDF . Climate-neutral societies Smart green mobility10 II. Main Developments in the Field of Sustainable T ourismProject title and description Priority ObjectiveBaltic Museum Resilience (BAMUR)October 2022 – September 2024The project equipped public authorities, non-gov-ernmental organisations (NGOs) and SMEs with atoolbox to help cultural and heritage institutionsmaintain their consolation role to people in times ofcrisis. The smaller project has received 0.48 millioneuros to achieve exactly that. Those fundings went tofive different museums or organisations in five differ-ent countries (Finland, Sweden, Lithuania, Estoniaand Poland). For example the Representative of Swe-den, the Museum of Västervik, acquired a budget of91.000 euros.Innovative societies Resilient economies andcommunitiesINNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS FOR THE RURALFOOD PRODUCTION SECTOR TODIVERSIFY INTO SUSTAINABLE CULINARYTOURISM SERVICES (BASCIL)January 2023 – December 2025Small food producers in rural areas have experiencedserious external disturbances because of the pandem-ic, rising energy prices, production costs, etc. One ofthe solutions for small local food producers is the di-versification of their business activity into the sus-tainable culinary tourism sector. Through integra-tion of conventional small-scale food productionwith culinary tourism services it is possible to reachthe end-customers directly and to get the highestvalue from selling the products using the shortestvalue chain. The mixture of services can includefarm tours, cooking workshops, degustations, tem-porary (pop-up) cafes, seasonal farm restaurants,food boxes etc. To attain visibility and attention intourism, solutions are efficient marketing of jointtourism products in the format of regional gastrotours, culinary routes, regional food packages stimu-lating cross-selling etc. Across Europe, the rural areasin the BSR region are currently not very well knownas a culinary tourism destination. Active involve-ment of food producers in culinary tourism is an ex-cellent opportunity for making the region more visi-ble and attractive for visitors. The acquired fundingfor the project lies at around 3.35 million euros. Theproject includes organisations from eight countries. Innovative societies Resilient economies andcommunities11 II. Main Developments in the Field of Sustainable T ourismProject title and description Priority ObjectiveBSR Cultural PearlsJanuary 2023 – December 2025The project BSR Cultural Pearls helps smaller citiesand regions to be more attractive to live in and im-prove their quality of life by engaging people in cul-tural activities and developing a stronger sense ofcommonship. With 3.50 million euros in fundings,the project Cultural Pearls is one of the most fundedcore projects of the Interreg Programme 2021–2027.Organisations from within all eight countries of theBSR are involved. Furthermore, the first CulturalPearls Network Conference in Helsingborg has beenheld in February 2025. In addition to that,Peipsiääre Municipality is the first one awarded theBSR Cultural Pearl 2025 title, also in February2025.Innovative societies Resilient economies andcommunitiesClimate Smart Baltic Beaches and T ourism(BEACH-SOS)August 2023 – July 2025The BEACH-SOS project helps authorities, busi-nesses and local communities adapt to the changingclimate to ensure thriving and sustainable beach rec-reation and tourism in the future.BEACH-SOS is supposed to develop capacity to up-take climate change into beach management strate-gies, and provide the best available data and infor-mation for adaptation of coastal tourism. BEACH-SOS seeks broader Baltic actor endorsement of fourco-produced deliverables and outputs: 1) sustainableadaptation pathways for coastal/beach tourism;2) climate-smart community action programme forbeach adaptation; 3) assessment and development ofindicators and criteria for climate-smart and resilienttourist beaches; and 4) a BSR information exchangenetwork for resilient beach tourism. 0.50 million eu-ros have been acquired for BEACH-SOS. The pro-ject partners consist of organisations from three dif-ferent countries. Water-smart societies Blue economy12 II. Main Developments in the Field of Sustainable T ourismProject title and description Priority ObjectiveBSR HYDROGEN AIR TRANSPORT –PREPARATION OF BALTIC SEA REGIONAIRPORTS FOR GREEN HYDROGEN(BSR HyAirport)November 2023 – October 2026With airports, service providers, industry and re-search organisations onboard, the BSR HyAirportprepares Baltic Sea region airports for handling hy-drogen-powered aircraft, storing and deliveringgreen hydrogen as a future energy source in aviation.Given the geo-economic structure of the region, effi-cient and reliable air transport is of great importancefor the mobility of people and businesses in theBSR. Air transport not only provides access to pe-ripheral areas but also helps to connect regions on allsides of the Baltic Sea. As many flights cover shortdistances in an environmentally sensitive area, theBSR has great potential to benefit from the intro-duction of (gaseous) hydrogen-powered aircraft,which are expected to come onto the market in thecoming years. Common challenges to be addressedby the partnership include the evaluation of optionsand elaboration of concepts for the regional supplyof green hydrogen (GH2) to airports according tolocal demand, legal and safety requirements relatedto GH2 storage, handling at airports, and the devel-opment, and testing of equipment and proceduresfor refueling and handling hydrogen-powered air-craft. The project will create a unique (maybe lead-ing) platform for the joint development, implemen-tation, and testing of practical solutions. For thisproject 16 airport, airlines, research organisationsand technology companies from Scandinavia, theBaltic States, Poland and Germany are working to-gether with 24 associated partners. The project isworking with an extraordinarily high fund, totalling4.80 million euros. Climate-neutral societies Smart green mobility13 II. Main Developments in the Field of Sustainable T ourismProject title and description Priority ObjectiveINTEGRATED SYSTEM FOR INTERACTIVEPUBLIC GARDEN DEVELOPMENT IN THEBALTIC SEA REGION (Interactive Gardens)November 2023 – October 2026In the project, public authorities develop a system ofinteractive public gardens in order to improve healthservices for people, and thus better meet theirwell-being, social and educational needs. It is a coreproject of Interreg Programme 2021–2027 and hasreceived 2.79 million euros in funding.Innovative societies Responsive public servicesLAKES CONNECTOctober 2022 – May 2024As a part of this project, research units from Latviaand Poland in cooperation with Lithuania conduct-ed pilot studies on the water quality of selected wa-ter reservoirs. A networking hub was established thatserves as a knowledge-sharing platform, offeringsolutions to limit the impact of tourism on the qual-ity of inland waters. The smaller project has acquired0.47 million euros in funding. The involved coun-tries are Poland, Latvia and Lithuania. Water-smart societies Sustainable watersReNutriWaterJanuary 2023 – December 2025Hot summers and drought make saving water re-sources in summertime crucial also in the BSR.Freshwater, a labor intense product, is still often dis-charged after single use in many countries.The project’s aim is to preserve nutrients in re-claimed water, to combat the eutrophication of theBaltic Sea and reduce the need for artificial fertiliz-ers. In the pilot cases in ReNutriWater, we are test-ing how nutrient-rich reclaimed water could be pro-duced and used, and thus, would create circulareconomy business models in the water sector. Theacquired funding is 3.85 million, involving fivecountries and 14 project partners. Through the SafeWater initiative, ReNutriWater offers a free opportu-nity to receive expert guidance and support in devel-oping and implementing innovative water reusestrategies tailored to organisation’s needs. The appli-cation period for the mentoring programme hadopened on 13 January 2025.Water-smart societies Sustainable waters14 II. Main Developments in the Field of Sustainable T ourismProject title and description Priority ObjectiveNURSECOAST-IIJanuary 2023 – December 2025The project ́s overarching goal is to find an alterna-tive wastewater treatment solution specifically adapt-ed to tourist areas that will reduce nutrient inputs tothe Baltic Sea. It is recognised that the challenge ofadaptation to high seasonality requires a broader ap-proach than just technological solutions. Therefore,the project aims to provide a comprehensive methodto address this issue. Funding: 4.42 million euros.Organisations from every country of the BSR are in-volved in the project. Water-smart societies Sustainable waters1.4 Interreg South Baltic during the period 2021–2027The Interreg South Baltic Programme promotes cross-border exchange in the southern Baltic Sea region,covering 26 NUTS 3 sub-regions in Denmark, Germany, Lithuania, Poland and Sweden.The programme vision ”United by the Sea into action for a blue and green future“ depicts the goal tocommonly strive for innovation, sustainablility, attractiveness and acitivity, also in the realm of maritime,coastal and cruise tourism which belong to the leading industries in the South Baltic area (SBA). Howev-er, despite the presence of varied tourist attractions, unpolluted and exciting natural landscapes and a de-cent accommodation base, relatively large disparities between SBA regions are noted regarding the levelof development of the tourist infrastructure.The environmental and climate conditions of the SBA, created by the influence of sea water, beaches andgreen areas, are currently used only in a limited extent for the creation of year-round tourist offers. Thesustainable use of the environmental assets for building the tourism offer, breaking the seasonality in tour-ism, can contribute to the development of the whole Programme area.The SBA does not have a common approach towards building a sustainable and innovative tourist sector,that would allow to more fully reap the benefits of the region’s touristic potential. The Programme areacould really benefit from cooperation in developing a common tourist product. This would bring eco-nomic benefits and could also elevate the SBA as a more attractive tourist destination. More sustainablepractices could be introduced. In addition, as tourism and cultural sectors are ones of high significance inthe SBA, supporting their green and digital transition could promote social inclusion and social innova-tion in the SBA.15 II. Main Developments in the Field of Sustainable T ourismA funding allocation of over 3.7 million euros was granted through the Interreg South Baltic Programmefor cross-border projects in spring 2025.7 T wo projects were presented during the signing ceremony:1. DeCoInter – Decarbonization of Maritime Sector and its Impact on Green Energy Transition:A transformation towards green energy solutions within the maritime industry will be facilitatedby this project.2. Horse T ourism for Everyone – Fostering Inclusive & Citizen-Oriented Horse T ourism Devel-opment in the South Baltic Area: The project’s focus is on developing inclusive, citizen-orientedequestrian tourism across the South Baltic region.The total funding of over 3.7 million euros was provided from EU funds, while the overall value of theprojects exceeded 4.6 million euros.The EC has also introduced a new proposal to accelerate green innovation, aligning with its commitmentto the European Green Deal. This initiative focuses on implementing sustainable technologies and solu-tions across the EU to combat climate change and promote environmental health. The proposal outlinesstrategies for improving energy efficiency, reducing emissions, and fostering eco-friendly practices through-out member states.In a call for collaboration, the EC is actively seeking feedback from various stakeholders, includingthose involved in the Interreg South Baltic Programme. The call aligns with the Programme focus oncross-border cooperation for sustainable regional development, making stakeholder insights especiallyvaluable. The contributions are crucial to tailoring the initiative to meet specific regional challenges andopportunities. The Programme stakeholders were encouraged to share their views on priorities, fundingallocations, and strategic objectives through an online platform until 6th May 2025.More information can be found on the EC website.7 https://southbaltic.eu/3-7-million-euros-granted-for-cross-border-projects-and-agreements-signed-with-ministers-participating/,access: 09/04/25.16 II. Main Developments in the Field of Sustainable T ourismThe Interreg South Baltic Programme 2021-2027 closed its fourth call on 4 February 2025.8 The selectedprojects related to tourism are listed below (March 2025):9Acronym Project Title Lead Partner/countryBALTIC MANORS@ internationalmarketsSupporting SMEs to develop & promote new manortourism products for international marketsTourism Association Vorpommern/ DEBeLIVE Baltic Living History Lessons – we share a passion, acommon past and futureAssociation of Polish CommunesEuroregion Baltic/ PLSouth Baltic HorseTourismSouth Baltic horse tourism – development of horsetourism based on cooperation, joint promotion, andoffer managementPomorskie Voivodeship/PLBBU Baltic Biking UPGRADE Pomorska Regionalna OrganizacjaT urystyczna | City of Barth | DanishCycling Tourism | European Cyclists’Federation | Klaipeda Region Associa -tion | Region Blekinge | SwedishCycling Advocacy Organisation | VisitLolland-Falster | WestpomeraniaRegional Tourism OrganisationECOMARINAS ECOMARINAS Project City of Gdansk - Gdansk Sports Center| EUCC – The Coastal Union Germany| Klaipeda University | Mare Foundation| Neringa Municipality Administration |Pomeranian Voivodeship | SlottsholmenMarina | Tolkmicko CommuneMental and Sustainable Mindscapes – raisingawareness & competences of benefits of intersectingmental wellbeing and environmentally friendlytourism in the SB regionPolish Union of Active Mobility(PUMA) | Ecological club „Zvejone“ |Tourist Association “NorthernKashubia” Local Tourist OrganisationBALTIC MANORSROUTEBaltic Manors ROUTE – Building up the “EuropeanRoute of the Baltic Manors”Tourism Association Vorpommern/ DESTRIVE Sustainable Tourism through Resilient and InnovativeFestival Ventures (STRIVE)CLEAN – Environmental ClusterDenmark/ DKMariEx MariEx – Creating new Maritime Experience Points& marketing narratives for land tourists to renew themaritime destination profile of the South Baltic areaTourism Association Vorpommern/ DE8 https://southbaltic.eu/lista_nabory/4th-call-for-project-proposals/, access: 09/04/2025.9 https://southbaltic.eu/discover-our-projects/project-database-2021-2027/page/2/, access: 09/04/2025.17 II. Main Developments in the Field of Sustainable T ourismAcronym Project Title Lead Partner/countryN-B-Well N-B-Well (Nature-based wellness tourism – a newconcept for sustainable development of the SBA)Klaipeda University/ LTReTour Regenerative Tourism (ReTour) – developing a newapproach that accelerates positive change in tourismbusinesses, local communities, nature and culture inthe SBAVisit Skåne AB/ SESB MANTA SB MANTA – South Baltic natural and culturalheritage assets management as Tourist AttractionAdministration of Lithuania MinorProtected Areas/ LTBOATMAN BOATMAN: creating a South Baltic network ofsustainable-tourism hubs connected to the maritimeheritage themeStiftelsen Västerviks Museum/ SE1.5 European Declaration on Cycling and Cycling Tourism in the BSRCycling on the EuroVelo network remained largely stable in 2024 compared to 2023, with a slight overallincrease of +0.5%. Weekend cycling traffic grew, while seasonal peaks flattened with increased winter andautumn cycling. A new level of analysis shows that urban areas dominate cycling volumes on the network.Compared to pre-pandemic figures, cycling levels across the EuroVelo network showed a sustained in-crease, with a notable +10.3% growth since 2019. Despite this long-term trend, largely steady traffic lev-els in 2024 compared to 2023 indicate a plateau after the COVID-19-induced cycling boom. This pointstowards a need for further investments in the network in order to ensure renewed substantial growth infuture years.Seasonal variations were observed, with winter (+1.2%) and autumn (+4.5%) recording increases in cy-cling traffic, leading to a further flattening of the seasonal curve. However, spring traffic saw a decline(-1.7%). Weather conditions, such as excessive rainfall and flooding in June and September 2024, couldhave contributed to this shift. Future studies will be necessary to analyse the impact of meteorological fac-tors on EuroVelo traffic patterns.In his term of office, the EU Commissioner for Sustainable T ransport and Tourism, Apostolos Tzitzikos-tas, will follow up on the European Declaration on Cycling and publish a first progress report by the endof 2025.The European Declaration on Cycling had been signed by the European Council, the EU Commission (EC)and the EU Parliament on 3 April 2024, marking the official adoption of the first inter-institutional cyclingpolicy at EU level. It represents the most ambitious EU initiative on cycling to date, recognising cycling as a18 II. Main Developments in the Field of Sustainable T ourismfully-fledged mode of transport. With eight core principles and 36 commitments, the inter-institutionaldeclaration describes cycling as one of the “most sustainable, accessible and inclusive, low-cost and healthyforms of transport and recreation, and its key importance for European society and economy.” It commitsall EU Institutions to support and enhance policies towards more cycling and sets out a roadmap for furthercoordinated action in promoting cycling as a sustainable and inclusive mode of transport for all Europeancitizens.The adoption of the European Declaration on Cycling reflects the strong collaborative efforts of civil so-ciety, the cycling industry, and governmental institutions. ECF , as the only Europe-wide civil society voicefor cycling, together with its industry partners Cycling Industries Europe and Confederation of the EuropeanBicycle Industry (CONEBI) had long advocated for a unified cycling policy at the European level.Sustainable bicycle tourism is gaining increasing relevance in the BSR as a low-impact and environmen-tally friendly alternative to conventional tourism. Cycling offers numerous advantages for both touristsand host communities, fostering regional economic development while preserving natural landscapes.Unlike motorized travel, cycling reduces carbon emissions, alleviates traffic congestion, and minimizes theecological footprint of tourism. Moreover, it encourages slow tourism, allowing visitors to engage moredeeply with local culture, heritage, and biodiversity. This mode of travel supports small businesses, fromlocal guesthouses and cafés to bike rental services and repair shops, thereby creating jobs and stimulatingthe rural economy.Several countries around the Baltic Sea have already made significant progress in developing cycling infra-structure. An outstanding project in this regard is the Baltic Biking Upgrade (BBU)10. Co-funded by theInterreg South Baltic Programme, it seeks to enhance bicycle tourism along the southern segment of theEuroVelo 10 – Baltic Sea Cycle Route. Spanning from September 2023 to 2026, this initiative encom-passes nine partners across six countries: Poland, Lithuania, Sweden, Denmark, Germany, and Belgium.Central to BBU’s mission is the support of SMEs situated along this cycling corridor. The project aims toassist these businesses in developing bicycle-friendly services and crafting appealing, bookable offers tai-lored to both local and international cycling tourists. This endeavor addresses challenges such as limitedknowledge, underdeveloped cycling-friendly standards, and the absence of robust business networks andpartnerships with pertinent stakeholders.10 https://pro.eurovelo.com/projects/2023-09-21_baltic-biking-upgrade.19 II. Main Developments in the Field of Sustainable T ourismBy fostering cross-border collaboration and enhancing cycling infrastructure, providing a continuous net-work for cyclists, linking major coastal cities and picturesque countryside areas, BBU aspires to positionthe Baltic Sea region as a premier destination for sustainable bicycle tourism. The project’s outcomes areanticipated to stimulate economic growth, promote environmental sustainability, and enrich the culturalexchange within the region.An even more targeted initiative is the Bike across the Baltic (BAB) project.11 It is a collaborative initiativeaimed at enhancing the EuroVelo 10 cycling route, which traverses all nine countries bordering the BalticSea. The project specifically concentrates on selected sections within Estonia, Finland, Poland, and Swe-den.Launched in August 2023 and scheduled to run until July 2025, the BAB project seeks to promote sus-tainable and active travel by improving infrastructure and services along the EuroVelo 10 route. This en-deavor not only enhances connectivity and accessibility across the Baltic Sea region but also offers newopportunities for both residents and visitors to explore the area.However, despite these advancements, considerable improvements are still necessary. Many sections of theroute remain poorly maintained, with uneven road surfaces, inadequate signage, and insufficient rest are-as. Furthermore, urban cycling infrastructure often lacks safe connections between city centers and sur-rounding rural areas, discouraging potential cyclists from choosing bicycles over motorized transport. Thelack of secure bike parking facilities and multimodal transport options, such as bicycle-friendly trains andferries, also limits the attractiveness of cycling as a primary means of travel.Recognizing these challenges, national governments and the EU have initiated various programmes topromote and enhance sustainable bicycle tourism. EU funding mechanisms, such as the European Re-gional Development Fund (ERDF) and the INTERREG Baltic Sea Region Programme, have supportedprojects aimed at improving cross-border cycling routes and developing smart mobility solutions. Addi-tionally, national policies increasingly prioritize cycling as a key component of sustainable transport strat-egies. Several countries have introduced subsidies for bike-sharing systems, e-bike infrastructure, and thedevelopment of long-distance cycling paths. Moreover, cooperation between municipalities, tourismboards, and environmental organizations has led to the establishment of certified “bike-friendly” accom-modations and services, ensuring high standards for cycling tourists.More could also be done to further integrate bicycle tourism into broader sustainability frameworks: TheEU’s Green Deal and the Sustainable and Smart Mobility Strategy present opportunities to further invest11 https://interreg-baltic.eu/project/bab/.20 II. Main Developments in the Field of Sustainable T ourismin safe, seamless, and well-connected cycling networks. Additionally, greater emphasis should be placedon education and awareness campaigns to promote cycling culture and safety among both tourists and lo-cal populations. Finally, policymakers must ensure that future infrastructure projects are not onlywell-funded but also designed with long-term sustainability in mind, taking into account climate resil-ience and environmental impact assessments.By continuing to invest in sustainable bicycle tourism, the BSR can enhance its attractiveness as a greentravel destination while simultaneously reducing environmental pressures and fostering inclusive eco-nomic growth.2. General developments in the BSR and beyond2.1 Warming of the Baltic Sea and proliferation of bacteriaThe Baltic Sea is warming three times faster than the average ocean temperature rises.12Due to climate change, the pathogenic bacterium Vibrio vulnificus proliferates on the Balitic coastlines,posing risks to public health, tourism, and aquaculture. According to a Nature article, reducing nutrientinputs could be an effective method to control the Vibrio vulnificus populations in eutrophied brackishcoasts.The Baltic Sea’s annual mean sea-surface temperatures are rising, and the ecosystem is expected to be in-creasingly affected by warming in the coming decades, and will be faced with extended heat wave dura-tions.13According to the advisory opinion issued by the International T ribunal for the Law of the Sea in Ham-burg (ITLOS) on 21 May 2024, parties to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UN-CLOS) are obliged to protect the climate: The tribunal recognises the warming and acidification of thesea and the rise of the sea level as a form of “pollution” of the sea.Recent research from a Finnish research station reveals that coastal ecosystems in the Baltic Sea could soonstart emitting greenhouse gases like CO2 and methane, instead of absorbing them. This concerning shiftis driven by both rising temperatures and increasing environmental pollution. The health of many12 „Die Ostsee wird immer wärmer“, Ostseezeitung from 23 May 2024, p.11.13 David J. Riedinger et al., Control of Vibrio vulnificus proliferation in the Baltic Sea through eutrophication and algal bloommanagement, May 2024. https://www.nature.com/articles/s43247-024-01410-x, access: 18/07/24.21 II. Main Developments in the Field of Sustainable T ourismcoastal areas has worsened due to runoff from forestry, fertilizers rich in nitrogen and phosphorus used inagriculture, and untreated wastewater.Action must be taken to ensure that oceans continue to absorb carbon. The excessive chemical nutrientsare causing harmful algae blooms and large “dead zones” where oxygen levels are depleted, a processknown as eutrophication. This threatens the ability of coastal ecosystems to mitigate climate change.142.2 Rising prices in the sectorAccording to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), tourism hasbounced back strongly from recent crises like the COVID19 pandemic, supporting economic growth andwell-being. However, the recovery is uneven, and rising geopolitical tensions, cost-of-living pressures andclimate-related events bring new challenges. Active, forward-looking policies are needed to step up effortsto build a more resilient, sustainable, and inclusive future for the sector.Businesses struggle to attract and retain workers and although inflation is abating, price pressures continueto impact transport, accommodation, and hospitality costs. Geopolitical tensions remain high, and the in-creasing frequency of wildfires, floods, heatwaves, and other extreme weather events is impacting the sector.15Due to rising energy costs and social expenses, also restaurants and hotels increased their prices. In the Re-gion of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany, prices are not rising as strongly as before. But wages in thesector are supposed to increase until 2026 at the amount of 600 euros in three steps.2.3 Promotion of tourism on IT platformsThe field of tourism is not free from democratic values. On the contrary, in order to be sustainable, it de-pends on them.Some tourist boards are represented on the platform X.com, which is increasingly criticized for spreadingdisinformation and inhuman and illegal contents.The tourist board of the German Region of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern after 15 years turned its back onthe internet platform X.com because of the ”dubious contents” proliferating there.14 https://phys.org/news/2024-07-baltic-sea-red-flag-global.html last access 13.03.202515 https://www.oecd.org/en/publications/oecd-tourism-trends-and-policies-2024_80885d8b-en.html, access: 30/04/2025.22 II. Main Developments in the Field of Sustainable T ourism3. Literature review on sustainable tourismSustainable tourism refers to the management and development of tourism activities in a way that harmo-nizes environmental integrity, socio-cultural authenticity, and economic viability. Its goal is to minimizethe negative impacts of tourism while enhancing the well-being of local communities, preserving naturaland cultural resources for future generations, and fostering intercultural understanding. The following ex-panded summary explores the key themes in sustainable tourism as found in different scientific works, of-fering a comprehensive overview of the topic.3.1 Energy and Resource ManagementOne of the critical aspects of sustainable tourism is energy management, which plays a vital role in reducingthe environmental impact of tourism activities. A case study about Jordan highlights that effective energymanagement requires the commitment of top management to implement strategies that reduce energy con-sumption in the tourism industry.16 This is crucial because energy useties up to carbon emissions, which con-tribute to climate change. Further studies emphasize the importance of integrating sustainability indicatorsto track energy usage and other resource consumption. However, while indicators help collect data, they arenot always directly actionable or sufficient for improving tourism sustainability on the ground.173.2 Sustainability and competitivenessSome authors address the link between tourism competitiveness and sustainable tourism.18 They foundout among other things that European regions with more abundant natural resources are often develop-ing unsustainable forms of mass tourism, with low value added and scarce benefits for the host commu-nities.16 Alhawamdeh, H., Al-Saad, S. A., Almasarweh, M. S., Al-Hamad, A. A.-S. A., Bani Ahmad, A. Y. A. B., & Ayasrah, F . T. M.(2023). The Role of Energy Management Practices in Sustainable Tourism Development: A Case Study of Jerash, Jordan.International Journal of Energy Economics and Policy, 13(6), 321–333.17 Font, X., Torres-Delgado, A., Crabolu, G., Palomo Martinez, J., Kantenbacher, J., & Miller, G. (2021). The impact ofsustainable tourism indicators on destination competitiveness: The European Tourism Indicator System. Tourism Economics,27(8), 1608-1630.18 Romão, J., Guerreiro, J. and Rodrigues, P . M. M. (2017) “T erritory and Sustainable Tourism Development: a Space-TimeAnalysis on European Regions”, REGION. Vienna, Austria, 4(3), pp. 1–17. doi: 10.18335/region.v4i3.142.23 II. Main Developments in the Field of Sustainable T ourismOther authors are focusing on tourists’ expectations regarding sustainable tourism and in the context ofcompetitiveness.19 A sub-group tries to understand better the tourism experience of millennials by con-necting their value orientations to the meaning that they give to travel. In doing so, they are aiming at dis-covering profiles of young tourists that can be targeted both now and in the future by tourism organisa-tions. A survey based on validated scales reached 423 Dutch millennials. An integrated multidimensionalresearch strategy has been applied where models that reduce the gathered data to fewer components (prin-cipal component analyses) were followed by a cluster analysis. Findings – Ten value orientations (Schwartz,1994) and four travel meanings have been identified. By combining these ten value orientations and fourmeanings, nine clusters have been identified representing groups of millennial tourists with differentneeds. For example, while two clusters fit into the popular description of young travellers seeking only un-pretentious enjoyment, millennials represented in two other clusters are strongly motivated by self-tran-scending values, distance themselves from the travel meaning escapism and relaxation and will thereforenot positively respond to a merely hedonistic travel offer. Concerning research limitations and implica-tions it is to be said, that a replication of this research is recommended in other national contexts, possi-bly using a longitudinal approach. Regarding practical implications, the nine clusters analyzed should beapproached with a dedicated travel offer. In particular, at least two clusters of millennials may be success-fully approached with a sustainable tourism offer. On the whole, the combination of value orientationsand travel meanings portrays a detailed and realistic picture of the tourism experience looked for by mil-lennials.20Other research contributes to the conceptualisation of the curriculum space21 for sustainable tourism andfocuses on food tourism.2219 Kyriakaki, A., & Kleinaki, M. (2022). PLANNING A SUSTAINABLE TOURISM DESTINATION FOCUSING ONTOURISTS’ EXPECTATIONS, PERCEPTIONS AND EXPERIENCES. GeoJournal of Tourism and Geosites, 40(1), 225–231. https://doi.org/10.30892/gtg.40127-823.20 Elena Cavagnaro et al. (2016): „Understanding millennials’ tourism experience: values and meaning to travel as a key foridentifying target clusters for youth (sustainable) tourism“, Journal of Tourism Futures, Vol. 4, no. 1, pp. 31 – 42.21 See for example: Ioanna Farsari (2022) Pedagogy for sustainable tourism: reflections on the curriculum space of a masterprogramme in Sweden, Journal of T eaching in Travel & Tourism, 22:1, 6-35, DOI: 10.1080/15313220.2021.197812722 Leer, Jonatan (2020), ‘Designing sustainable food experiences: Rethinking sustainable food tourism’, International Journal ofFood Design, 5:1&2, pp. 65–82, doi: https://doi.org/10.1386/ijfd_00010_1.24 II. Main Developments in the Field of Sustainable T ourism3.3 Social and Cultural InclusionAnother key area is social inclusion, particularly the involvement of local communities in tourism devel-opment. A study on the role of young people in tourism development suggests that this group is not onlyimportant as a potential workforce but also as a source of innovative ideas for creating more inclusive andsustainable tourism practices.23 Young people advocate for creating spaces for social interaction and em-phasize the need for tourism to meet social needs. Their perspectives highlight the importance of foster-ing community engagement in tourism development to ensure that it is both socially responsible and sus-tainable.Additionally, children’s perspectives on tourism are often neglected. A study that explores how childrenview tourism in their local communities shows that they often feel subordinate to tourists, viewing them-selves as “locals” in contrast to tourists. This feeling of subordination negatively influences how childrenperceive tourism’s impacts. The research calls for a more inclusive, empowering, and sustainable tourismdevelopment approach that considers the voices of children as part of the broader community narrative.243.4 Indicators and Measurement MethodsSustainable tourism practices rely heavily on indicators that measure various aspects such as environmen-tal impact, social inclusion, and economic benefits. Research on sustainability indicators shows that whilethese tools can provide valuable data, they often lack the power to bring about significant change. Indica-tors are useful for monitoring sustainability, but their effectiveness in directly improving the tourism sec-tor’s sustainability is still limited.25 This highlights the need for more comprehensive and actionable indi-cators that can translate data into practical solutions for managing sustainable tourism.23 Partanen, M., Kettunen, M., & Saarinen, J. (2023). Community inclusion in tourism development: young people’s socialinnovation propositions for advancing sustainable tourism. Tourism Recreation Research, 50(1), 58–73.24 Šegota, T., Koščak, M., Knezević, M., Binder, D., Pelaez-Verdet, A., Knezević, I., Kolar, T., & Vukonić, D. (2023). Exploringthe neglected voices of children in sustainable tourism development: A comparative study in six European tourist destinations.Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 31(4), 561–580.25 Miller, G., & Torres-Delgado, A. (2023). Measuring sustainable tourism: A state of the art review of sustainable tourismindicators. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 31(7), 1483–1496.25 II. Main Developments in the Field of Sustainable T ourism3.5 Heritage TourismThe book “Sustainable Tourism and Heritage: Tools for Planning and Management” is based on the needto manage tourism from a heritage conservation and protection perspective, from the recognition of theimportance of heritage as a driver for local development, and from the necessity to create responsible tour-ist products that are respectful of their natural, cultural and social environment. This handbook includesfourteen worksheets on various aspects of tourism enhancement and planning: natural resources, builtheritage, movable and intangible heritage, landscape, climate, facilities, tourism service providers, tourismdemand, participatory processes, heritage interpretation, recreational activities and tourism product de-sign, recreational carrying capacity, and tourism communication. The worksheets are available in printedversion but also in digital version.26An in-depth look at Heritage Tourism shows that tourism not only affects the local economy but also hasprofound social and cultural effects on host communities. The most explored benefits of tourism, such asemployment and economic improvements, are still a focal point. However, there is an emerging shift to-ward emphasizing cultural well-being and the social impacts of tourism, which often remain underex-plored in current research.27 Sustainable tourism frameworks that consider the broad spectrum of impactson both the economy and culture are critical to promoting long-term sustainability.3.6 Critical PerspectivesSeveral works critically analyze traditional growth models in tourism, particularly the concept of economicgrowth measured by GDP . One notable perspective comes from the degrowth movement, which advocatesfor a shift away from the idea of perpetual economic expansion. Instead, it promotes a steady-state economyin which tourism is designed to be efficient, sustainable, and sufficient for the needs of both tourists and lo-cal communities. This view suggests that sustainable tourism should aim to balance the needs of the envi-ronment with social and economic outcomes, thus avoiding the negative impacts of constant growth.2826 Mayor Salvi et al. (2017): “Sustainable Tourism and Heritage. Tools for Planning and Management”, Valencia UniversitatPolitècnica de València Editorial, València.27 Brooks, C., Waterton, E., Saul, H., & Renzaho, A. (2023). Exploring the relationships between heritage tourism, sustainablecommunity development and host communities’ health and wellbeing: A systematic review. PLOS ONE, 18(3).28 5Hall, C. M. (2009). Degrowing Tourism: Décroissance, Sustainable Consumption and Steady-State Tourism. Anatolia: AnInternational Journal of Tourism and Hospitality Research, 20(1), 1–1926 II. Main Developments in the Field of Sustainable T ourismAnother perspective that is gaining momentum is the idea of “sustainability transitions”. This approach callsfor a transformation of the entire tourism system by integrating sustainable practices into broader societaland economic changes. By aligning sustainable tourism with other sustainability goals, this framework en-courages a systemic shift toward a more holistic and long-term approach to tourism development.293.7 Tourism in crisis and the post-COVID contextPost-COVID tendencies in sustainable tourism are another field of research: Rui Alexandre Castanho et.Al. (2024) compiled studies and reflections, showing the complex challenges and unprecedented oppor-tunities that define the new normal in travel.30The COVID-19 pandemic has deeply affected the tourism industry, leading to significant economic loss-es and shifts in travel behavior. The crisis, however, also presents an opportunity to rethink and reshapetourism toward more resilient, inclusive, and environmentally-conscious systems. The pandemic has high-lighted the importance of long-term planning in tourism, as well as the need for the industry to becomemore adaptable and responsible in the face of future crises.31 As the industry recovers, trends such as do-mestic travel, digitalization, and an increased focus on health and sustainability are expected to shape thefuture of tourism. These trends offer an opportunity to build a tourism system that is not only more re-silient to future disruptions but also more aligned with sustainable practices.323.8 Mitigating OvertourismOvertourism has emerged as a significant issue in popular tourist destinations, leading to overcrowding,environmental degradation, and social tensions between residents and tourists. A study conducted in29 Niewiadomski, P ., & Brouder, P . (2024). From ‘sustainable tourism’ to ‘sustainability transitions in tourism’? TourismGeographies, 26(2), 141–150.30 Post-COVID Tourism – T endencies and Management Approaches, Sustainable Development Book Series, Volume 19: https://library.oapen.org/bitstream/handle/20.500.12657/93381/external_content.pdf;jsessionid=D95099CBF451698AE3ABD809E0D5BDD4?sequence=1; access: 18/12/2024.31 Davies, A., Cretella, A., Edwards, F ., & Marovelli, B. (2020). The social practices of hosting P2P social dining events: Insightsfor sustainable tourism. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 30(5), 1004–1019.32 Henderson, J. C., & Ng, A. (2021). Tourism and COVID-19: Impacts and implications for the travel and tourism sector.Tourism Geographies, 23(3), 370–389.27 II. Main Developments in the Field of Sustainable T ourismKrakow explores strategies to mitigate overtourism’s negative impacts. Solutions include tourist disper-sion, which encourages tourists to visit less crowded areas, as well as infrastructure improvements and le-gal reforms aimed at balancing the needs of residents with tourism growth. These strategies can help pre-vent the overexploitation of resources while ensuring that tourism remains a viable and sustainable eco-nomic activity.333.9 ConclusionIn conclusion, sustainable tourism is a complex and evolving field that requires a multi-dimensional ap-proach. Key aspects such as energy management, community involvement, social inclusion, and innova-tive measurement methods are all integral to achieving sustainability in the tourism sector. At the sametime, new perspectives, such as degrowth and sustainability transitions, provide alternative approaches foraddressing the negative impacts of tourism. The COVID-19 crisis has underscored the need for more re-silient and adaptable tourism systems, while the ongoing challenges of overtourism highlight the impor-tance of responsible management strategies. As research continues to evolve, it is clear that sustainabletourism is not only an academic issue but a critical challenge for policymakers, stakeholders, and localcommunities worldwide.33 Kruczek, Z. (Hrsg.). (2023). Sustainable Tourism – Ways to Counteract the Negative Effects of Overtourism at TouristAttractions and Destinations. MDPI.28 III. Meetings and EventsIII. Meetings and Events1. Seventeenth Baltic Sea Tourism Forum (BSTF) on 1–2 October inGdańskThe 17th Baltic Sea Tourism Forum (BSTF), entitled “Regenerative and Data- Based Tourism”, is goingto take place on 1–2 October 2025 in the European Solidarity Centre in Gdańsk, Poland.The renowned forum is the premier event that brings together all stakeholders in the tourism sector. Itgathers key players to discuss various approaches to tourism within the Baltic Sea Region (BSR). Thisyear’s event focuses on the future of sustainable, regenerative, and data-driven tourism in the Baltic SeaRegion (BSR).34The EUSBSR Policy Area Tourism, Pomorskie Tourist Board, Pomorskie Region, Pohjois-Pohjanmaan li-itto – Council of Oulu Region, European Solidarity Centre together with the support of the Interreg Bal-tic Sea Region Programme are going to host the event.352. PA Tourism Steering Group Meetings November 2024 and May 2025On the 28th of November 2024, the second meeting of the year of the PA Tourism Steering Group Meet-ing took place.The meeting covered various aspects of tourism in the BSR, including updates on the Polish Presidency,discussions on sustainable and regenerative tourism practices, and presentations on tourism initiatives indifferent countries. Participants shared insights on ongoing projects, future plans, and potential collabo-rations, with a focus on enhancing competitiveness and sustainability in the tourism sector. The meetingalso addressed the preparation of action plans, upcoming events such as the Baltic Sea Tourism Forum,and updates on EU-level developments related to tourism and transport.3634 https://eusbsr.eu/event/baltic-sea-tourism-forum-2025/ last access 11/03/202535 https://eusbsr.eu/policy-area-tourism/activities/ last access 11/03/2025.36 https://eusbsr.eu/wp-content/uploads/eusbsr-policy-area-tourism-steering-group-meeting-minutes-28-11-2024.pdf page 2 / lastaccess 05/03/2025.29 III. Meetings and Events3. EuroVelo & Cycling Tourism Conference, 23–25 September 2024 inViborg, DenmarkOn 23–25 September 2024, the EuroVelo & Cycling Tourism Conference took place in Viborg, Den-mark.The EuroVelo & Cycling Tourism Conference is the prime event bringing together all actors involved inthe cycling tourism sector. It offers platform for debate and exchange about the latest developments andideas in the world of cycling tourism, EuroVelo and cycle route networks. The 2024 edition was held inViborg, a town in the centre of the Jutland peninsula, in Denmark. Located on EuroVelo 3 – PilgrimsRoute, Viborg represents a key meeting point on the ancient road Hærvejen. The event was co-organisedby the European Cyclists’ Federation (ECF) and the Municipality of Viborg.The Conference explored the theme ‘Legacy and Localhood’.Visitors’ experience of a destination is more meaningful if there is contact with locals, and by interactingwith visitors on a bicycle, locals can be even more inspired to make cycling part of their lives, as a dailymode of transport and leisure. The Conference reflected on how to engage the local communities, how toapproach the diversity of cycling tourism, and on the key to sustainable local development.Consult the Conference website for all information about the event in Viborg.The EuroVelo & Cycling Tourism Conference 2024 took place in the Tinghallen conference venue andstarted with a welcome reception on Monday 23 September. On T uesday 24 September, a full day of ple-nary and parallel sessions took place, before a networking dinner. Wednesday 25 September was dedicat-ed to two technical visits on bicycles.You can read a recap of the event on the EuroVelo for Professionals website.37The 2025 edition of the EuroVelo & Cycling Tourism Conference will take place in Balatonfüred, Hun-gary, from 24 to 26 September.3837 https://pro.eurovelo.com/news/2024-02-27_eurovelo-cycling-tourism-conference-2024-viborg, access: 04/12/24.38 https://pro.eurovelo.com/news/2025-02-26_eurovelo-cycling-tourism-conference-2025-balatonfured, access: 11/04/25.30 III. Meetings and Events4. Mecklenburg-Vorpommern Cruise ConferenceOn 20 September 2024, the first “Mecklenburg-Vorpommern Cruise Conference“ took place from 10:00a.m. until 15:30 p.m. at TUI Cruises‘ Mein Schiff 7 in Rostock-Warnemünde, Germany. The event wasorganised by the network MV Cruise Net. It focused on the economic effects of cruise tourism in the re-gion and on new technologies and concepts of shipping companies to enhance supply sustainably. Theformer minister for Economics, Infrastructure, Tourism and Labour, Reinhard Meyer, said: ”Cruise tour-ism in a long time has been a decisive economic factor and employer for Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. Itis vital to keep added value in the country. That is why we are continuously supporting our harbours. Byinvesting in shore-side power supply at the cruise terminal Rostock-Warnemünde, we support the sectoron its way towards more sustainability and protection of the environment.”Mein Schiff 7 will initially be the first ship in the Mein Schiff fleet to run exclusively on low-emission ma-rine diesel (maximum sulphur content of 0.1 percent) and is equipped with catalytic converters (nitrogenoxide reduction: around 75 percent) as well as with a shore power connection. In addition, Mein Schiff 7has been built in such a way that it can also run on methanol, with the prospect of green methanol, whichwill make the ship’s propulsion almost CO2-neutral. Since its first call in the Baltic seaside resort ofWarnemünde on August 15, 2024, Mein Schiff 7 has also been using the Rostock shore power system inthe port, thus ensuring almost emission-free ship operation throughout its entire laytime.The shipping company AIDA Cruises also took part in the conference. It wants to contribute to makingsustainability initiatives in the cruise secor visible.The Mecklenburg-Vorpommern (MV) Cruise Net recently commissioned a study from dwif-ConsultingGmbH to provide key figures on the importance of this industry.The aim is to take a holistic view of theindustry. The two-part study on the added value of cruise shipping in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern shall becompleted by the end of 2025. It is the first of its kind for the north-east of Germany. In a first step, theeconomic effects on the provider side will be analyzed, i.e. with the help of dwif-Consulting GmbH, theturnover generated at the shipyards, in the ports and at the local shipping companies shall be mapped. Ina second part a survey among passengers and crew members shall be conducted, focusing in particular onconsumer behavior on land.A look at the travel analysis by the “Forschungsgemeinschaft Urlaub und Reisen” (2024) shows that in-terest in cruises remains high among Germans: according to the study, around one in seven Germans3939 German-speaking resident population aged 14 and over; source: FUR, RA 2024.31 III. Meetings and Events(13.3 percent) is part of the overall potential for cruises. At the beginning of 2024, around 2.5 millionGermans (3.6%) stated that they would almost certainly want to go on a cruise by 2026. A further 6.8million Germans (9.7%) are generally interested in cruises as a form of vacation.5. Fifteenth and Sixteenth Annual Forum of the EU Strategy for the BalticSea Region 2024The 15th Annual Forum of the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region (EUSBSR) “Sustainability, Resil-ience, and Security” was held on 30-31 October 2024 in Visby, Sweden.The programme included seminars, panel discussions, a Networking Village and workshops. The PolicyArea Tourism, in collaboration with Policy Area Nutri, organised a workshop on “Sustainable Tourismand Water Resilience”, which explored the intersection of tourism and environmental protection.40The 16th Annual Forum of the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region (EUSBSR) will be held on 28-30October 2025 in Pomorskie Region, Poland. The programme consists of high-level plenaries, panel dis-cussions, workshops, and networking opportunities. In Addition, “the forum will encourage collabora-tion on strategies in the Baltic Sea Region to tackle the challenges of stability and sustainability in chang-ing times.”416. Macro-Regional and Sea Basin Strategies Days 2025The Macro-Regional and Sea Basin Strategies Days will be held on 24-25 September 2025 in Brussels,Belgium.Organised by the EC, these Days bring together EU territorial strategies. The event aims at improving thecoordination between countries, pillars coordinators, stakeholders, presidencies and representatives of theEU institutions.4240 https://interreg-baltic.eu/event/eusbsr-annual-forum-2024-3/ last access 11.03.202541 https://eusbsr.eu/event/eusbsr-annual-forum-2025/ last access 11.03.202542 https://eusbsr.eu/event/macro-regional-and-sea-basin-strategies-days-2025/ last access 11/032025.32 III. Meetings and Events7. Interreg Baltic Sea Region Programme Conference 2025The Interreg Baltic Sea Region Programme Conference 2025 “Kind of magic: Interreg. This is how we doit, transnationally” was held on 20-22 May 2025 in Tampere, Finland.43On the schedule of the conference stood a reception by the City of Tampere, a Programme Conferenceand Project visits. The Conference served as a stage to illustrate the importance and benefits of transna-tional cooperation. Therefore, it introduced projects, created discussions and enabled networking.448. SEArica Intergroup Launch Conference on 5 February 2025The European Parliament’s Seas, Rivers, Islands and Coastal Areas (SEArica) Intergroup Launch Confer-ence (2024-2029), hosted by MEP Christophe Clergeau, Chair of the SEArica Intergroup, treated thesubject of the new EU Oceans Pact on 5 February 2025 in the European Parliament (EP) in Brussels. Itwas organised with the support of the Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions (CPMR).Healthy seas and oceans are critical to maintaining the environmental and climate cycles that sustain ourplanet, while also playing a central role in Europe’s socio-economic model. Yet today, the growing cumu-lative impacts of human activities and the vital importance of the EU’s oceans in addressing key futurechallenges for Europe demand a cohesive approach to ensure a balance between sustainable opportunitiesand environmental preservation and restauration. The challenges facing our oceans are complex, intercon-nected, and escalating, requiring an adapted response at EU level. The European Oceans Pact, first an-nounced by President Ursula von der Leyen in her political guidelines 2024-2029, could serve as a trans-formative opportunity to build the next generation of EU policies affecting oceans. In this context, theSEArica Members of the European Parliament participated in the inaugural event of the SEArica Inter-group 2024-2029 to lay the groundwork for shaping an ambitious EU Oceans Pact.43 https://eusbsr.eu/event/interreg-baltic-sea-region-programme-conference-2025/ last access 11/03/2025.44 https://interreg-baltic.eu/event/ibsr-programme-conference-2025/ last acess 11/03/2025.33 Annex: A Selection of Useful LinksAnnex: A Selection of Useful LinksDavide Pernice, Olena Kuzhym: Fact Sheets on the European Union – Tourismhttps://www.europarl.europa.eu/factsheets/en/sheet/126/tourism.EU Newsroomhttps://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/whats-new/newsroom_enEU Tourism Dashboardhttps://tourism-dashboard.ec.europa.eu/?lng=en&ctx=tourism.EUSBSR Policy Area Tourismhttp://www.baltic-sea-strategy-tourism.eu/pa-tourism/.EuroVelo Data Hubhttps://en.eurovelo.com/Guide on EU Funding for Tourismhttps://single-market-economy.ec.europa.eu/sectors/tourism/eu-funding-and-businesses/funding-guide_en .Interreg Baltic Sea Region Projectshttps://interreg-baltic.eu/projects/Interreg South Baltic Programme 2021–2027https://southbaltic.eu/interreg-south-baltic-2021-2027UNWTO World Tourism Barometerhttps://www.unwto.org/un-tourism-world-tourism-barometer-data34 List of AbbreviationsList of AbbreviationsBAB Bike across the BalticBBU Baltic Biking UpgradeBSPC Baltic Sea Parliamentary ConferenceBSR Baltic Sea RegionBSTF Baltic Sea Tourism ForumCBSS Council of the Baltic Sea StatesCoR European Committee of the RegionsCPMR Conference of Peripheral Maritime RegionsDG Directorate-GeneralEC European CommissionEP European ParliamentERDF European Regional Development FundETC European T ravel CommissionETF European Tourism ForumEU European UnionEUSBSR EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea RegionGDP Gross Domestic ProductGH2 Green hydrogenGSTC Global Sustainable Tourism CouncilInterreg European territorial cooperationMEP Member of the European ParliamentMS EU member statesNGO Non-governmental OrganisationPA Policy AreaPAC Policy Area CoordinatorPA Tourism Policy Area Tourism35 List of AbbreviationsSBA South Baltic areaSDGs UN Sustainable Development GoalsSMEs Small and Medium EnterprisesUN United NationsUNCLOS United Nations Convention on the Law of the SeaUNWTO United Nations World Tourism OrganizationWTTC World T ravel and Tourism CouncilBaltic Sea Parliamentary Conferencewww.bspc.netBSPC SecretariatSchlossgartenallee 1519061 SchwerinGermany