Support of the sustainable tourism development in the Baltic Sea region

1. Support of the sustainable tourism development in the Baltic Sea region by Lidiia Fedchuk

2. Sustainable tourism – is a part of tourism industry trying to provide a low impacton the environment and local culture.

3. The Travel and Tourism in the Green Economy Symposium Gothenburg, Sweden 14-15 September 2009

4. Sustainable tourism development of Baltic Sea Region is provided mainly by: • UNWTO – United Nation WorldTourism Organisation • ETC – European Travel Commission • EU – European Union

5. According to UNWTO sustainable tourism should: • make optimal use of environmental resources  • respect the socio-cultural authenticity of host communities • ensure viable, long-term economic operations, providing • socio-economicbenefits • maintain a high level of tourists’ satisfaction 

6. European Travel Commission – is a non-profit organisation whose role is to market and promote tourism to Europe in general, and to their individual countries in particular.

7. EU Strategy of SDT for 2007-2013 is to make this part of Europe more: • Environmentally sustainable (e.g. reducing pollution in the sea); • Prosperous (e.g. promoting innovation in small and medium enterprises); • Accessible and attractive (e.g. better transport links); • Safe and secure (e.g. improving accident response)

8. SWOT analysis of sustainable tourism development in the Baltic Sea region • Strengths: • Non-usual climate for many countries (cold, windy) • Diverse nature and landscape (lakes, islands, cliffs, forests) • Diverse culture and history (Vikings, Hansa, Brick Gothic, Amber) • Diverse holiday performance of BSR-tourists • Numerous initiatives and projects promoting sustainable tourism • Innovative and creative suppliers for sustainable tourism products • Promoting and developing an EUregional program • Common language – English • Successful environmental polices • Thematic and geographic co-operation on sustainable tourism

9. SWOT analysis of sustainable tourism development in the Baltic Sea region • Weaknesses: • Short summer season • Lack of supply chain management • Poor knowledge of market requirements and customers requests • Poor visibility of sustainable tourism products • Partly poor knowledge of employees in the tourism sector regarding • tourism development • Gap between strategies and practices • Eutrophication (algae blooms) • Environmental problems in some areas • Lack of communications between cultural heritage experts and tourism • “Cold” mentality (Lack of communication skills important for tourism) • The lack of tourism and economiceducation and research • The lack of professionalism withinthe tourism industry

10. SWOT analysis of sustainable tourism development in the Baltic Sea region • Opportunities: • Different traditions and methods • Mapping of resources as a starting point • Potential for cross-national routes • Grooving interest and demand in nature and culture tourism • Increasing customer awareness on sustainability issues • Development of strategic co-operation • Usability of IT solutions for STD • Further development of Baltic Seacruise tourism • A development of Baltic Sea WorldHeritage Tourism (culture tourism) • Growing importance of tourism for sustainable development • Improvement of economy • Model for sustainable development Baltic 21/ Labs for sustainable nature tourism

11. SWOT analysis of sustainable tourism development in the Baltic Sea region • Threats: • Growing competition with destinations outside the BSR • Increasing expectations of customers • Environmental problems associated with growth in road, air and sea transport • Sometimes politicians not seeing the tourism as an industry by majority • of politicians • Overfishing as a bad example of fishing tourism development

12. Sustainable Tourism Development of Baltic Sea Region

13. Thanks for your attention!