Sustainable Tourism Development in (Arctic) Coastal Communities
This course offers the opportunity to join on a transformative journey exploring the balance between tourism, development and preservation of both natural and cultural heritage in Arctic coastal communities. We are going to dig deeper into the unique challenges and opportunities faced by Arctic tourism destinations and will discuss innovative strategies to achieve economic growth while safeguarding delicate Arctic multispecies communities. You are invited to engage with experts, case studies, and collaborative projects, helping you to gain valuable insights into the shaping of sustainable and regenerative futures for tourism.
The course includes an online session before and after the Summer School-week in Bodø.
Tourism in the Fennoscandian Arctic has experienced significant growth. In 2019, Arctic Norway, including Svalbard, Bjørnøya, Jan Mayen, and the mainland counties of Nordland, Troms, and Finnmark, recorded 4.2 million overnight stays, with 1.6 million by international visitors. Similarly, Arctic Finland’s Lapland Region, known for attractions like Santa Claus tourism, saw 3.1 million overnight stays, 1.6 million of which were by international guests. In Sweden, the "Arctification" trend was evident, with 218 Arctic-themed businesses established in the northern counties of Norrbotten and Västerbotten by 2019.
Amidst the growth of visitor numbers, we are critically engaging with the complexities of sustainable tourism development. Throughout this summer course we apply collaborative learning approaches, work with research-based case studies, and engage with local tourism and hospitality entrepreneurs. We will organise an excursion to see tourism in action, talk to coastal tourism entrepreneurs, and experience the unique nature of the Arctic. This approach, combining theory and practice, will offer an understanding of coastal tourism development, valuable work-life experience and insights that are helping you to practice your theoretical skills. During the course, we will explore the theoretical foundations of change and innovation, regenerative tourism development, the posthuman turn in tourism. We will apply the conceptual concepts of the course to a case in order to equip students with a deeper understanding of the practices necessary to achieve a sustainable and regenerative future for Arctic tourism. In this video you can see what we did during the summerschool of 2024: https://youtu.be/9nGB6vl1Twg?si=VrR1LSpxmsAFybc-
Students will work in pairs on a case throughout the week, and share their insights and ideas with the rest of the group during our last day (examination in the form of an oral presentation).
For students whom have been accepted to the Nord Summer School 2025.
Students who meet one of the following criteria are qualified for Nord Summer School 2025:
If you are enrolled as a student at one of the SEA-EU Alliance universities, which are:
- University of Cadiz
- University of Bretagne Occidentale
- Kiel University
- University of Gdańsk
- University of Split
- University of Malta
- Parthenope University of Naples
- University of Algarve
or
If you are a student with an active study right at a university or university college in Norway.
or
If you are a student with an active study right at a university with whom Nord University has an exchange agreement with.
If you are unsure, please reach out to us: summerschool@nord.no
Knowledge
- Acquire a broad understanding of innovative sustainable tourism principles, like regenerative tourism and the posthuman turn, and their application in Arctic coastal communities.
- Explore the distinctive challenges and opportunities associated with tourism, development, and preservation in the Arctic context.
- Gain knowledge of the historical, cultural, and environmental factors shaping tourism in Arctic regions.
Skills
- Apply sustainable tourism concepts to practical and theoretical challenges, making informed decisions.
- Gain insight into ethical considerations and responsible tourism practices in Arctic environments.
- Reflect on the interconnectedness of economic development, environmental preservation, and community well-being.
- Develop research and analytical skills through engagement with real-world case studies.
General Competence
- Plan and execute collaborative projects that contribute to the sustainable development of tourism in coastal communities.
- Communicate effectively on academic subjects related to sustainable tourism and practices of use of Arctic’s natural and cultural heritage, both in writing and orally.
- Communicate important academic subject matters such as theories, problems and solutions, both in writing and orally, as well as through other relevant forms of communication
- Exchange opinions and experiences with others with a background in the field, thereby contributing to the development of good practice
The Summer School fee is NOK 1500.
Class room teaching, case learning and fieldwork.
The course includes an online session before and after the Summer School-week in Bodø.
OD - compulsary participation
MU - presentation
Overlap refers to a similarity between courses with the same content. Therefore, you will receive the following reduction in credits if you have taken the courses listed below:
SUM1004 - Sustainable Tourism Development in (Arctic) Coastal Communities - 2 credits