On Wednesday 2 December, a lecture was given by Sirpa Kärki, destination developer at Visit Umeå. The well-attended lecture described how Visit Umeå and Region Västerbotten Turism have been working with sustainable development in the tourism industry since 2015. By conducting analyses based on global criteria for sustainable tourism and creating sustainability reports, companies have been given tools to start or develop their ongoing sustainability work. Sirpa Kärki took us on a journey rooted in the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and explained the different tools used to support companies in their development towards becoming more sustainable. 

Since 2015, various projects have been implemented in Västerbotten and the Umeå region, all of which have contributed to sustainable development. The projects have created conditions for companies to review their operations from a sustainable perspective, socially, economically and environmentally. After a review, a sustainability report is created with proposals for action that describe the path towards sustainable business. Since its inception, some 40 companies in the Umeå region have been audited.

Sustainability is now a hygiene factor and in the business development processes we carry out, companies are audited against global sustainability criteria for the industry, resulting in a report with proposed actions. These may be small steps to be taken or entirely new strategic directions. Participating in a review and going through the process is a journey where the journey is the destination. You simply don't get there all at once, but by taking small steps, everyone contributes to a sustainable future," says Sirpa Kärki.

If you want to know more about the sustainability work that takes place in the hospitality industry, you can read more here.

The visitor industry contributes revenue and jobs; in the Umeå region alone, the visitor industry employs more people than Volvo trucks. In addition, it contributes to infrastructure development, nature and cultural conservation initiatives, and people-to-people understanding, attitudes towards diversity, equality and non-discrimination.

Tourism is one of Sweden's basic industries and in 2019, total tourism consumption amounted to SEK 306 billion. Tourism accounts for 2.5 per cent of Sweden's GDP in 2019.*

*Source: Tillväxtverket