Decent Work as a Foundation for Sustainable Arctic Tourism
While tourism is often promoted as a key driver of economic development, diversification and population retention in northern regions, research finds that much of the sector's success relies on forms of labour that are often risky, seasonal and insecure (Bente et al. 2026). The Tourism Employment in the Arctic: Towards Decent Work report examines the growing challenge of creating fair, secure and sustainable employment in Arctic tourism destinations. It explores how tourism employment can move towards the goal of "decent work". The report provides a strong justification for developing regenerative tourism. It highlights the social dimension of regeneration, particularly decent work, workforce wellbeing, community resilience, and local value creation - important issues included in soon to be published Regenerative Tourism Model for the Public Sector and Regenerative Tourism Public–Private Partnership (PPP) Business Model developed by NPA REGENERATE project.
Decent Work as a Foundation for Sustainable Arctic Tourism
The Tourism Employment in the Arctic: Towards Decent Work report (link) examines the growing challenge of creating fair, secure and sustainable employment in Arctic tourism destinations.
While tourism is often promoted as a key driver of economic development, diversification and population retention in northern regions, research finds that much of the sector's success relies on forms of labour that are often risky, seasonal and insecure. The report explores how tourism employment can move towards the goal of "decent work".
Findings show that employment challenges can affect tourism destinations in multiple ways. Labour shortages and high staff turnover can reduce business resilience and increase recruitment and training costs. Difficulties in attracting qualified staff can also negatively affect service quality and visitor experiences. At the community level, rapid tourism growth may additionally increase pressure on housing, infrastructure and public services, particularly in small Arctic destinations with limited capacity. As a result, tourism's contribution to sustainable regional development may be weakened.
NPA Regenerate Partners during Learning Journey at Hawkhill in June 2026. During the event, the owner shared their work and actions towards own employees wellbeing, community wellbeing and local value creation for their destination.
One recommendation from the research is that strengthening resilience and sustainable development of tourism requires better policy alignment between supply (local capacity) and demand (visitor pressure), anchored in community values, cultural respect, and realistic expectations of tourism’s role for the economies.
The report provides a strong justification for developing regenerative tourism. It highlights the social dimension of regeneration, particularly decent work, workforce wellbeing, community resilience, and local value creation - important issues included in soon to be published Regenerative Tourism Model for the Public Sector and Regenerative Tourism Public–Private Partnership (PPP) Business Model developed by NPA REGENERATE project.
The Regenerative Tourism Models developed by REGENERATE project was presented at 34th Nordic Symposium on Tourism and Hospitality Research in October 2026, Iceland.
NPA REGENERATE project partners from Finland, Iceland, Ireland and Sweden have been working in collaboration to develop Regenerative models for adaption in the Northern Periphery and Arctic area. The Regenerative Tourism Model for the Public Sector and Regenerative Tourism Public–Private Partnership (PPP) Business Model developed by REGENERATE project is now finalised and will soon be published. The model offers ways to anchor community values, cultural respect, and realistic expectations of tourism’s role for the economies through Public-Private Partnerships.
Cover photo: Visit Karelia