Järvsö Sustainable Tourism Summit:
A Catalyst for Transformation
27-29 augusti
Look forward to three interesting days in scenic Järvsö where outdoor activities are combined with
interesting speakers, inspiring panel discussions, spontaneous meetings and networking.
Schedule
We are currently working on finalizing all the details regarding the content and will publish it shortly. So stay tuned! Below you’ll find the schedule for the days
Day 1
Wednesday, August 27
Check-in
Järvsö Kyrka
16:00 – 17:00
Opening Ceremony (The ceremony is also open to the public)
Järvsö Kyrka
16:00 – 17:30
Take part in a majestic opening ceremony in Sweden’s largest country side church, Järvsö Kyrka.
- Jan Bonander
- Antjé Ackelén
- Linnea Van Wagenen
- Elin Kautsky
Partner: Ljusnans pastorat
Dinner
Selected restaurants around Järvsö
19:30 – onwards
Dinner for pre-registered conference participants
Day 2
Thursday, August 28
Morning Yoga
Stenegård
Cecilia Gustafsson
08:20 – 08:40
Morning yoga
Cecilia Gustafsson guides us through Gentle and simple yoga movements to awaken the body before an exciting day. No change of clothes needed and no prior registration required.
Welcome!
Conference Programme
Stenegård
09:00 – 09:20
Welcome & Opening Address: “The Dream of a Future”
Speaker: Antje Ackelén
Session 1 – Generation Sustainable
09:20 – 10:05
What do the youth of the future want from life, work, and their place?
Speaker: Sofia Rasmussen
Generation Sustainable
Young people are not only the workforce of the future – they are also tomorrow’s guests, entrepreneurs, and community builders. Their values shape the sustainable societies and travel behaviors of tomorrow. What are their dreams? What do they seek in a job, a place, a lifestyle?
We’ll explore insights, current research, and young people’s own perspectives – and discuss how we can shape an attractive, inclusive, and sustainable visitor industry that meets their needs, values, and expectations.
Session 2 – Between Rules and Roots
10:05 – 14:40 (including coffee break and lunch)
When nature, directives, and sustainability set the framework
Joint introduction – then you choose and participate in two different breakouts – ends with joint reporting from each breakout.
In the Armchair
14:40 – 14:50
An exciting short interview on a current topic!
Partner: STF
In the armchair
Session 3 – Nature as a Right, Responsibility and Resource
14:50 – 15:35
How do we make it all fit together?
Partners: Ox2, Storskifteslaget
Session 3
Nature as a Right, Responsibility, and Resource – How Do We Reconcile It All?
Access to nature is an essential part of Nordic identity and a crucial resource for outdoor life and tourism. However, as pressure on trails, forests, and coastal areas increases, new questions arise about responsibility, funding, and conservation.
How do we manage nature tourism in harmony with nature conservation? What does it mean for forests to be both an industrial resource, a biologically valuable habitat, and a tourist attraction? And who actually pays to ensure that nature remains accessible, safe, and sustainable over time?
We discuss the future of the right of public access, new funding solutions, and how innovation and collaboration can help us create a balance between growth, conservation, and accessibility.
Session 4 – Experiences at Stenegård
15:35 – approx. 17:00 (including coffee break)
After a day indoors, we are given the opportunity to explore Stenegård’s sustainable selection of activities.
Choose one of the offered activities.
Session 4
Herb Garden Tour with Idun Hansen
Join us for a guided walk through the herb garden with Idun Hansen.
Historical Tour of the Farm with the Farm’s Guides
Join us on a journey through the history of Stenegård.
From a pharmacist’s dream of a healing model farm to today’s beloved visitor destination and cultural venue. During this tour, we’ll explore the golden era of the farm in the mid-1800s, dive into Stenegård’s rich past, and get to know the remarkable people who lived and worked here. You can expect stories of sorrow, humor, and resilience. The tour takes place outdoors.
Dance with Mia Berndes
The Joy of Movement through Dance
We mix simple movements, heart-pumping exercises, and choreography—no prior experience needed.
Dance has many positive health effects—it reduces stress, improves memory, and boosts creativity, among other things. Come and experience the joy of dancing!
Kitchen Garden Tour with Ida Engvoll & Anders Hall
This tour is meant to inspire ecological vegetable gardening and demonstrate methods for achieving high-quality yields without compromising respect for nature.
We’ll discuss sustainable growing techniques such as crop rotation, soil health, green manures, mulching, composting, and more. We’ll also take a look at tools like the broadfork and seed drill.
We’ll reflect on the importance of growing food for resilience and preparedness. You’ll have the chance to ask all your questions—anything from the soil beneath your feet to the treetops above. Let’s start from there.
Forest Bathing, Mindfulness, and Breathing Exercises with Cecilia Gustafsson
We’ll head to a serene pine grove nearby, where you’ll be introduced to forest bathing so you can try it on your own at home—along with simple, grounding breathing techniques.
This is an effective and accessible way to activate the parasympathetic nervous system, the counterpart to the fight-or-flight response, which unfortunately is often overstimulated in modern life—leading to wear on our bodies, minds, and relationships.
Wear clothing suitable for sitting or lying on a blanket (which we’ll provide) on the ground.
Joint dinner at Ersk-Anders Barn
18:45 –
We’ll head out to Ers Anders Lada to enjoy a full evening together in the beautiful Hälsingland countryside. Expect wonderful music and entertainment, a chance to mingle, and a specially composed three-course dinner prepared by our talented local partners, Nära Pära & Brolins Gastronomi. It might be a late night!
Partner: Hälsingebröllop
Day 3
Location: Stenegård
Morning Yoga
Stenegård
07:50 – 08:10
Conference Programme
08:30 – 08:40
Introduction / Reflections from the previous day
Session 5 – Tourism as the Engine of the Countryside But who is in charge, and who pays?
08:40 – 10:25
- The Need for Balance Between Urban and Rural Areas
- Splitting the Bill – Tourist Taxes and Other Pathways to Sustainable Place Financing
Session 5
Splitting the Bill – Tourist Taxes and Other Pathways to Sustainable Place Financing
Tourism brings life and opportunities—but also creates a need for investments in infrastructure, the environment, and hospitality. Who should cover the costs of maintaining and developing a destination’s appeal?
Tourist taxes are a model that is being increasingly discussed, but they bring both hope and concern. Can such taxes contribute to long-term place development—or do they pose a threat to small businesses and competitiveness? And what other co-financing solutions could be possible, where the public sector, businesses, and local communities share responsibility?
We highlight concrete examples and reflect on how we can secure the destinations of the future—attractive, sustainable, and functional—together.
The Need for Balance Between Urban and Rural Areas
The tourism industry is a vital force for the attractiveness, employment, and future prospects of many rural areas. At the same time, challenges arise at the intersection of public responsibility and business-driven initiatives. Place development often ends up in a no man’s land where resources, roles, and mandates are unclear.
How are tourism development opportunities affected by the regulations and decisions made in major cities? Why are taxes often higher in sparsely populated areas—even though cities depend on the resources and experiences that the countryside provides? And how can we create conditions that make young people want to live, work, and run businesses outside the metropolitan regions?
We will discuss the future of rural policy, the need for balance between urban and rural areas—and how we can work together to ensure a sustainable, fair, and long-term development where tourism is an enabler, not a burden.
10:30 – 11:00 – Swedish fika
In the Armchair
11:00 – 11:10
An exciting short interview on a current topic!
Keynote Speaker
11:10 – 11:50
Closing and Reflections on the Days
11:50 – 12:25
LUNCH
12:25 – 13:30
More details about the content and session titles will be updated shortly
