DETOCS Updates in the 2nd Semester from South Ostrobothnia

Working on the SWOT and PESTEL analysis

The local stakeholder group met for a second time in September to further develop the SWOT and PESTEL analysis. One of the questions tackled at the meeting was “What are the threshold issues and challenges for promoting responsible tourism?”  The question and especially the answers are very relevant to the DETOCS project and its objectives. The following were some of the pressing issues mentioned by the stakeholders: 

• high prices and high interest rate,
• the importance of public transportation and complementary timetables versus the lack of these,
• the need to find and encourage synergies between regional operators,
• the unstable global situation,
• staying up to date on green tourism and digital issues especially amongst smaller operators,
• the need for behaviour guidance with potentially increasing numbers of tourist in relation to trash, and energy efficiency, etc.
• and green washing versus actual greening

These topics give a good outline of what should be tackled in the South Ostrobothnia region of Finland. With these answers and the further insight gained from the stakeholder event, the SWOT and PESTEL analysis within the Finnish context has been created. The analysis will be presented to the Climate Working Group of the Regional Council of South Ostrobothnia  in order to gain further relevant input. 

Other activities

To brighten the dark month of November, partners in South Ostrobothnia were privileged to organise and host the DETOCS project's second partner meeting and site visits. This visit is presented in more detail in a separate news article.

The Region of South Ostrobothnia also had the opportunity to present the DETOCS project poster at a Climate Seminar for municipality representatives from the South Ostrobothnia region and two neighbouring regions.