Kvarken – Be my Guest

Svedjehamn
The Kvarken – be my guest project, focuses on investigating local residents' interest in and engagement with local tourism development, and their views on how destinations can be more accessible without exceeding the area's ecological carrying capacity.

Natural areas like the Kvarken Archipelago are both fragile and hard to reach, making uncontrolled tourism development problematic, especially without involving the local community. In Finland and around the globe, tourism is often driven by customers and businesses, which can overlook the role of local residents. The aim of Kvarken – Be My Guest project is to develop tourism solutions that are more accessible, sustainable, and community-based.

Project information

  • The pilot area is the UNESCO World Heritage site in the Kvarken Archipelago and includes measures in the municipalities of Korsholm, Malax, Korsnäs, Vörå, and the Vaasa region.
  • The project is in collaboration with the Centre for Lifelong Learning at Åbo Akademi University
  • Duration of the project:01.01.2025 - 28.02.2026
  • Budget: €150 300 
  • Project has received EU rural funding by  Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment in Ostrobothnia
  •  

Peter Björk, 2022

"Our goal is to develop solutions that support community-driven tourism development as a counterbalance to tourist and business-driven development" 

Professor Peter Björk

More Information

Annika Pollari, Project Leader

annika.pollari@hanken.fi

Tel. +358 50 564 3274

 

Peter Björk, PI and Professor of Marketing

peter.björk@hanken.fi

Vaasa

 

Interview with Peter Björk on how "Hanken receives research funding to develop sustainable tourism in the Kvarken region".

Kvarken Be My Guest