RegenT Project Launches in the Finnish Archipelago and Turku

Purposeful Beginnings

“True to the spirit of RegenT, the venue was chosen with intention” said Elena Kolosova, senior advisor for external cooperation from Interreg Baltic Sea Region. The picturesque Villa Reuter in Pargas, nestled in the world’s largest archipelago with the pounding backdrop of a stormy November sea, is a small family-owned company sourcing local ingredients, often hand foraged or fished from the locality. The two-day event, held on 13–14 November 2025, gathered project managers, stakeholders, and experts to collaborate on the future of regenerative tourism.

Highlights from the Kick-Off

• Collaborative Vision: The event opened with introductions from the RegenT team and partner organisations, each sharing personal connections to the project’s goals.
• Project Roadmap: Work package leaders outlined the steps, timelines, and milestones for the project, focusing on knowledge consolidation which will be available during 2026 in our Regenerative Tourism Knowledge Hub, capacity building which will be delivered in 2027 in six interactive training modules, and long-term impact and monitoring frameworks.
• Stakeholder Mapping: Interactive sessions mapped out key stakeholders and consolidated project information. Cocreation with stakeholders is one of the central methods of the project to ensure valid results.
• Local Insights: As the project works integrally with multi-level stakeholders, local tourism leaders and researchers were invited to the event.
  • Niina Hemming, Director of Business Development at the City of Pargas, shared perspectives on tourism’s vital role in helping to combat population and infrastructure decline in rural areas of the archipelago.
  • Kristiina Kukkahovi, CEO of Visit Turku Archipelago, presented her vision for the new Saaristo brand, which focusses on the international potential for the archipelago area, with silence and authenticity at its heart.
  • Esa Högblom Senior Planner, Tourism and Sami Heinonen, Agent for Archipelago and Rural Areas from Associated Organisation, The Regional Council of Southwest Finland participated in the networking lunch.
• Cultural Experiences: The day concluded with a seaside sauna, highlighting the role of sauna as a regenerative cultural activity, an activity that unites our countries.

The second day continued at lead partner, Novia University of Applied Sciences’ campus in Turku, with strategic planning, and discussions on engagement, digital platforms, and knowledge sharing. The event concluded with a networking lunch featuring local tourism leaders and researchers.

Looking Ahead

With the RegenT project now underway, partners are committed to pioneering new models of tourism that give back more than they take. By fostering multi-stakeholder collaboration and embracing regeneration, the project aims to set a new standard for tourism in the Baltic Sea region and beyond.

This is only the beginning the passionate team behind the project have a strong vision for the future of tourism in our 8 participating BSR countries.

Programme Manual Online

Choose