Culture opens pathways to sustainable tourism in the north – cross-border cooperation is crucial

Cultural tourism is one of the fastest-growing forms of tourism, offering northern regions significant opportunities for economic, social, and cultural well-being. Culture and creative industries are increasingly emerging as important sources of livelihood alongside traditional industries such as mining and forestry.

This is highlighted in a publication by the Oulu Business School at the University of Oulu and Luleå University of Technology, in which researchers examine the role of culture and the prerequisites for sustainable tourism in the Bothnian Arc region.

“Culture plays an increasingly important role as a resource for regional resilience and renewal, especially in sparsely populated northern areas where tourism has emerged as a key industry alongside traditional sectors,” says Professor Saila Saraniemi from the Oulu Business School.

The researchers identify several needs for change. Despite rich cultural resources and strong creative expertise, many initiatives by cultural actors in the region remain small-scale and fragmented. They also face difficulties in accessing business support or entering tourism markets in general. Tourism development is often planned separately from cultural policy. The researchers found that this separation limits collaboration and makes it difficult to sustain activities beyond individual projects.

Different operating rhythms and practices in the cultural and tourism sectors often hinder long-term cooperation, creating a need for clear structures and sufficient resourcing. Climate change and demographic shifts also pose challenges for local communities, particularly in rural and other sparsely populated areas.

“Many promising local initiatives lose momentum when project funding ends, and cross-border cooperation is still constrained by differences in governance and support systems,” says Associate Professor Jeandri Robertson from the Luleå University of Technology.

Sustainability and cultural integrity

Rather than promoting growth based on mass tourism, the researchers emphasize sustainability and cultural integrity. Sustainable cultural tourism is based on community-driven approaches, strong networking, and well-coordinated cooperation across sectors and national borders.

The researchers propose concrete measures that can be used to develop cross-border cooperation models between cultural actors and tourism entrepreneurs, support regional development, and enhance education in the tourism and cultural sectors. These include education provided by universities and other educational institutions, as well as joint operational models for cultural and tourism actors to produce and share knowledge. At the regional governance level, cross-border cooperation groups require resources and the development of multi-year funding mechanisms.

The findings are particularly relevant for local communities in the region, such as Sámi, Meänkieli-speaking, and other Bothnian Arc communities, as well as young entrepreneurs and professionals working in the arts, culture, and tourism sectors.

Despite its relevance, cross-border cooperation in cultural tourism remains under-researched. This newly published research report brings new perspectives into the academic discussion on the role and significance of local communities in developing sustainable tourism. It also highlights the need for further research, particularly on practical cooperation models between the arts, culture, and tourism sectors, the development of year-round cultural tourism products, and the impacts of funding solutions on regional vitality.

The report was produced as part of the Interreg Aurora funded ACCENT project, involving researchers from the University of Oulu and Luleå University of Technology, as well as LTU Business and the Oulu2026 Cultural Foundation.

The study is based on interviews with representatives from culture, tourism, policymaking, and Indigenous communities. The publication draws on extensive research material combining expert interviews, documentary sources, and previous academic literature.

Publication: Saraniemi, Saila; Robertson, Jeandri; Luonila, Mervi; Amore, Alberto; Foster, Tim; García-Rosell, José-Carlos; Helling, Christine; Hägg, Christina; Näppä, Anna; Teglund, Lars; Valovirta, Aino; Äikäs, Tiina; Project Steering Committee of ACCENT (2026-02-02): Opening pathways to sustainable cultural tourism in the North

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