REGENERATE Partners Meet in Finland to Advance Regenerative Tourism Across the North

Regenerative tourism is no longer just an emerging concept—it is becoming a practical framework for strengthening destinations, supporting local communities, and protecting nature. Earlier this summer, partners in the REGENERATE project gathered in Finland to review progress and plan the next stage of this international collaboration.

On 25–26 June 2026, partners from Iceland, Finland, Sweden, and Ireland met at Hawkhill Cottage Resort near Helsinki for the latest REGENERATE project meeting. Hosted by ProxyLab, the meeting marked the successful completion of the project’s first phase and laid the foundation for the next stage of work.

GeoCamp Iceland participated in the meeting alongside Visit Reykjanes and other project partners, contributing to discussions on how education, collaboration, and place-based experiences can support a more regenerative approach to tourism.

Building the foundations

The first phase of REGENERATE has focused on understanding the current state of tourism across the Northern Periphery and Arctic region. During the meeting, partners reviewed the results of regional analyses, stakeholder mapping, and the collection of examples demonstrating how regenerative tourism is already being implemented in different destinations.

Rather than simply reducing negative impacts, regenerative tourism aims to create positive outcomes for destinations by supporting healthy ecosystems, resilient communities, and thriving local economies. Sharing practical examples from across the partner regions has been an important step in identifying approaches that can be adapted elsewhere.

Learning from Hawkhill

The meeting venue, Hawkhill Cottage Resort, provided more than just a place to meet. It served as a living example of regenerative tourism in practice.

Through its close relationship with the surrounding landscape, commitment to sustainability, and emphasis on authentic local experiences, Hawkhill demonstrated how tourism businesses can successfully balance environmental responsibility with economic viability. Visiting the resort allowed partners to experience firsthand how regenerative principles can become part of everyday operations rather than remaining theoretical ambitions.

GeoCamp Iceland’s role

For GeoCamp Iceland, participation in REGENERATE aligns closely with our mission of using education and field-based learning to inspire more sustainable relationships between people and places. Every educational programme we deliver encourages participants to better understand the landscapes they visit, engage with local communities, and reflect on how tourism can contribute positively to the destinations they experience. The project strengthens this work by connecting partners who share the ambition of making tourism a force for environmental stewardship, community wellbeing, and regional resilience.

As the project moves into its next phase, GeoCamp Iceland looks forward to contributing to the development of educational resources and sharing practical experiences from Iceland with partners across Northern Europe.

About REGENERATE
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REGENERATE is an international cooperation project led by Visit Reykjanes. The project brings together partners from Iceland, Finland, Sweden, and Ireland to develop regenerative tourism approaches that create positive impacts for nature, local communities, and regional economies through collaboration, innovation, and shared learning.