This paper, being the first output of the project – provides an academic literature review, a short overview of existing indicator frameworks to assess the sustainability of tourism development, and a policy review of Nordic national tourism policies – has thus far provided outlines and some answers to the research questions presented at the beginning of this report.
So far, the research has provided insights into the social sustainability of tourism development in the region. The literature review has helped to answer the initial research questions by identifying key themes and aspects of social sustainability in tourism. The next steps will involve a more detailed analysis of how these themes are applied in practice. That will be carried out through case studies and stakeholder interviews to provide a more comprehensive understanding of social tourism sustainability, if and how it is applied in practice.
The results of the next phase of the project, building on the insights gleaned from this report, will be analysed along with the results of this report to assess how socially sustainable tourism development is initially presented on a policy level and subsequently implemented in practice. Case studies and field visits will provide opportunities to gather information on realities of tourism policy implementation. By engaging with key stakeholders – such as local government officials, tourism operators, and community members – the research team will be able to gather more qualitative data to assess the alignment between the policies’ intended goals and their actual outcomes. These interactions will reveal the practical challenges and facilitators in the policy execution, offering a nuanced understanding of its efficacy. Case studies of specific tourism destinations or initiatives within the Nordic region will serve to illustrate how, and if, the policy is operationalised in diverse contexts. These case studies, drawn from different geographic and socio-economic settings, will enable a comparative analysis to identify common themes and unique variations.