REGGAE Final Seminar: Regenerative Nature Tourism – From Insights to Practice

Regenerative Nature Tourism: From Insights to Practice

What does regenerative nature tourism mean in practice, and how can tourism businesses put it into action? Join the final seminar of the REGGAE – Regenerative Nature Tourism project to explore the project’s findings, discover practical resources and discuss the future of nature tourism.

The event brings together tourism entrepreneurs, researchers, development organisations and other stakeholders. Participation is free of charge, with a full-day programme in Öja, Kokkola, and a morning webinar available online.

Webinar programme, 10:00–12:00

The webinar is moderated by Teea Pietilä, Tourism Developer.

Reflections on regenerative nature tourism

• 10:00–10:10 | Welcome and opening remarks
  Pia Smeds, Project Coordinator, Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke).

• 10:10–10:20 | Regenerative nature tourism: why it matters and what it means in practice
  Henna Konu, Professor, University of Eastern Finland.

• 10:20–10:30 | Entrepreneur experience from the REGGAE journey
  Floriane Colonnier, Gold of Lapland.

• 10:30–10:45 | REGGAE courses and guidebook: practical resources for tourism entrepreneurs
  Ann Dolling, Researcher, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, and Lena Enlund, RDI Expert, Centria University of Applied Sciences.

• 10:45–10:50 | Video insights from regenerative tourism entrepreneurs

• 10:50–11:00 | Break

From findings to practice: a dialogue between entrepreneurs and researchers

• 11:00–11:10 | Developing regenerative tourism services
  Floriane Colonnier, Gold of Lapland, and Elli Vento, Postdoctoral Researcher, University of Eastern Finland.

• 11:15–11:25 | Changing mindsets: how regenerative tourism shapes thinking and well-being
  Tommy Sandström, Kuller & Klang, and Ina Hallila, Senior Specialist, Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke).

• 11:30–11:40 | Accessibility and inclusion in nature-based tourism
  Linda Boberg-Santala, NAAST, and Lusine Margaryan, Assistant Professor, Mid Sweden University.

Looking ahead

• 11:40–12:00 | Legacy of the REGGAE project – carrying the knowledge forward
  Ina Hallila, Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke), and Liisa Kokkarinen, Head of Sustainable Development, Visit Finland. Closing words conclude the webinar.

Full-day programme in Öja

For onsite participants, the day begins with coffee and registration at 9:30, followed by the webinar. The afternoon offers opportunities to connect with other participants and experience local regenerative tourism activities and cultural environments.

• 09:00: Transport from Kokkola railway station to Öja.

• 09:30: Morning coffee and registration.

• 10:00–12:00: REGGAE final webinar.

• 12:00–13:00: Lunch and networking.

• 13:00–14:00: Local regenerative tourism activities.

• 14:00–14:45: Closing session, networking and coffee.

• 14:45: Return transport to Kokkola railway station.

Participation and registration

Date: Wednesday, 23 September 2026
Venue: Öjan Kyläkeskus, Öjavägen 454, 68550 Öja, Kokkola, Finland
Online participation: Webinar session only, 10:00–12:00
Cost: Free of charge
Organiser: REGGAE – Regenerative Nature Tourism project

All programme times are Finnish time (EEST, UTC+3).

Register for online participation by 20 September 2026. The registration deadline for onsite participation was 30 August 2026, with places limited to the first 50 registered participants.

Register for the webinar