On May 21, we had the honor of promoting the rich flavors of pomorskie and establishing new business relationships during a unique event at the Polish Embassy in Berlin. The meeting brought together 70 German journalists and tour operators, who were eager to discover the culinary secrets of our region.

At the stand, prepared in cooperation with the Gdańsk Tourist Organization, local specialties awaited: honey from Pasieka Miodolandia, cheeses from Radostowskie Rarytasy, jams from Bory Tucholskie, cold cuts from the Winne Grono restaurant, and the famous Goldwasser with pieces of gold from the Gdańska Wytwórnia Historycznych Smaków. Each of these products attracted attention and encouraged conversations about the culinary traditions of pomorskie.

A special place in the program was reserved for the Piwna47 restaurant—a partner of the Pomorskie Prestige project, distinguished by the Michelin guide. Chef Alan Ławrynowicz delighted guests with a bouquet of pomorskie flavors: trout with green vegetables, marinated kohlrabi, herring, canapés with venison tartare, and tartlets with Kashubian strawberries for dessert. The guests’ reactions were extremely enthusiastic!

The event was opened by Jan Tombiński, Polish Ambassador to Berlin, together with Marcin Płachno, director of the Polish Tourist Organization’s Foreign Center. Małopolska also presented its culinary riches with the Szara Gęś restaurant from Krakow, serving, among other things, oscypek cheese mousse and cold soup.

Our guests could not leave empty-handed – everyone received gifts from the event partners. For our part, we showed off Gdańsk anchovies from the Gryfon Restaurant and Kashubian strawberry jam from Leśny Dwór. Let the goodness of pomorskie flavors spread throughout the world!

 

October 1–2, 2025 | European Solidarity Center, Gdańsk, Poland

Registration is now OPEN!

Join political leaders, tourism professionals, researchers, and innovators from across the Baltic Sea region to discuss the future of tourism in the spirit of sustainability and regeneration.

 

The main themes of this year’s BSTF:

Regenerative tourism

Data-driven tourism

The program includes:

• Inspiring presentations by experts from across the region, including Anna Pollock, Andreas Koch, Rob Holmes, Jeremy Smith, Liisa Kokkarinen, and many others
• Keynote speeches
• Good practices from the region
• Networking
• Thematic masterclasses

This is the 17th edition of the Baltic Sea Tourism Forum – the leading event dedicated to tourism in the Baltic Sea region.

 

Register now:

Registration form

Draft agenda and practical information

Organizers:

The forum is organized by the Tourism Policy Area Coordinators of the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region (EUSBSR), with the support of:

the Ministry of Sport and Tourism of the Republic of Poland, LOT Polish Airlines, the Pomorskie Tourist Board, the European Solidarity Center, the Oulu Regional Council (Finland), and the Interreg Baltic Sea Region program.

Join us in Gdańsk and help shape the future of tourism in the Baltic Sea region!

On May 12, Gdańsk hosted a workshop organized by the Pomorskie Tourist Board as part of the project entitled Regenerative Tourism (ReTour) – developing a new approach that accelerates positive changes in tourism, local communities, nature, and culture in the South Baltic region. The event brought together representatives of the local tourism industry, who jointly began work on a new approach to tourism development based on the principles of regenerativity.

Joint discovery of a new direction

During the workshops, participants explored together what regenerative tourism is and how it can respond to contemporary challenges — not only by minimizing negative impacts, but also by actively supporting local communities, the economy, and the environment.

In a relaxed and businesslike atmosphere, participants:

– learned to look at their activities from a new perspective,

– sought out the “note of regenerativity” in their initiatives

– exchanged experiences and values that are important to them in their work with tourists.

Practical approach and co-creation

The workshops also allowed participants to focus on the needs of their audience. Participants:

– designed research tools to help better understand customer expectations,

– worked on empathy maps, analyzing the behaviors, values, and motivations of different audience groups,

– considered solutions rooted in the local context and accessible to different groups of visitors.

Inspiration and the beginning of change

The workshops showed that local tourism has the potential to become a driver of positive change – economic, social, and environmental. We hope that the meeting provided participants with an inspiring dose of knowledge and encouraged them to take further action.

This is just the beginning…

ReTour is a process that has a real chance to change the future of tourism in Pomerania. The project focuses on education, cooperation, and practical support in building tourism that not only welcomes guests but also supports and renews.

We would like to thank all participants for their energy, openness, and commitment. Follow the next stages of the project — together we want to shape a more conscious and responsible future for tourism.

On May 7–9, 2025, the inaugural meeting of the Climate Neutral Destinations (CliNeDest) project took place in Helsinki. Representatives of eight destinations in the Baltic Sea region began working together to transform tourism toward climate neutrality.

???? Why is this important?

Tourism accounts for a significant portion of global emissions—as much as 50% of its carbon footprint comes from transportation. At the same time, there is a growing demand for sustainable forms of travel. CliNeDest is the answer to both of these challenges.

As part of the project:

• • we support local SMEs in creating climate-friendly offers,

• • we develop a network of Climate Neutral Destinations,

• • we create training programs for tourism organizations.

The meeting in Helsinki allowed the partners not only to exchange experiences, but also to build a common vision for action. An inspiring part of the program was a lecture by Ed Gillespie, author of the book “Only Planet – a flight-free adventure around the world,” who shared his story of traveling around the world without using an airplane. His message? Let’s have the courage to make changes and inspire others to think outside the box.

CliNeDest is more than just a project. It is a joint step towards more conscious, resilient, and responsible tourism. We want not only to change our regions, but also to inspire others to take action.

The picturesque region of Lolland-Falster in Denmark hosted another project meeting as part of the international ReTour project, which focuses on developing the concept of regenerative tourism in the South Baltic region (March 17-19, 2025).

Collaboration, exchange of experiences, and inspiration

Project partners from Poland, Denmark, Lithuania, Germany, and Sweden met to share experiences, develop innovative ideas, and learn about local initiatives that could become models for a regenerative approach to tourism. We visited, among others, Femern A/S—an infrastructure project of great cross-border significance—and Frederiksdal—an example of a place with the potential to create a tourist offer that respects nature and local traditions.

The meetings and study visits provided a better understanding of how the regenerative approach can be implemented in practice, in a way that is tailored to the specific conditions and needs of a given place.

What is regenerative tourism?

Regenerative tourism is an approach that not only protects tourist destinations, but actively renews and strengthens them. It works for the benefit of local communities, nature and the landscape, and cultural heritage.

It is a change in mindset, where tourism ceases to be solely about consumption and becomes a joint effort for the good of the place and its people. The goal is to create experiences that enrich both visitors and the places they visit.

What are we doing as part of ReTour?

The project covers four main areas of work:

Study visits and cooperation with stakeholders – partners analyze good practices and develop common methods of action.

Testing offers – each region tests in practice which ideas and tourism products work locally.

Positioning regenerative places – promotional activities and guidelines are prepared on how to present places offering value-based tourism.

Dissemination of solutions – a guide, a set of tools, and a joint action plan will be developed to help implement regenerative tourism in other regions.

The ReTour project is implemented as part of the Interreg South Baltic 2021–2027 program.

We invite you to follow the development of the ReTour project.

As part of the CliNeDest. Climate Neutral Destinations project, a webinar entitled “Global criteria and certification of sustainable tourism” was held on May 6, 2025.

During the meeting, participants had the opportunity to learn, among other things:

• • what are the applicable international criteria for hotels, attractions, events, and tourist destinations,

• • how the available certification programs differ and what are the costs of their implementation,

• • what indicators, rankings, awards, and certificates related to sustainable development exist,

• • how to choose the best certification program for your organization.

A recording of the webinar is available here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Chlm2S_m5tc

Host: Anula Galewska – international expert at the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) and co-founder of Travinda.

The webinar was organized as part of the CliNeDest project, funded by the European Union under the Interreg Baltic Sea Region Program 2021–2027.

More information about the CliNeDest project:

• • [PL]: CliNeDest. Climate Neutral Destinations
  • [EN]: CliNeDest – Interreg Baltic Sea Region

The final meeting of the partners of the Bike Across the Baltic (BAB) project, co-financed by the Interreg Baltic Sea Region Program, took place in Gdańsk on April 9–10, 2025. Partners from across the Baltic Sea region met to summarize the results of the project, discuss recent activities, and explore opportunities for further cooperation in the field of cycling tourism and mobility. The meeting was hosted by the Pomorskie Tourist Board.

Internal discussions and planning

On Wednesday morning, April 9, the partners gathered at the Dolna Brama Center in Gdańsk for an internal session. The meeting was devoted to evaluating the results of the BAB project, planning the final activities, and discussing the sustainability of the results after the end of the project. Key topics included the preparation of the final report, dissemination activities, and maintaining the cross-border cooperation developed within the project. The partners also discussed strategies for further promoting cycling tourism in the Baltic Sea region, using the experience and tools developed within BAB.

Meeting with external guests

After a networking lunch at the Almond Hotel restaurant, the meeting was opened to external guests to broaden the perspective on the promotion of cycling and the development of tourism.

Magdalena Szymańska, representing both the City of Gdańsk and the Velo-City 2025 Steering Committee, presented the highly successful Bicycle May campaign. This initiative encourages students and their families to commute to school and work by bicycle on a daily basis through a month-long competition with attractive prizes. The campaign, which began in Gdańsk, has been successfully adapted in many cities across Poland, showing how local actions can develop into nationwide initiatives. Szymańska also presented the current state of preparations for the Velo-City 2025 conference, which Gdańsk will co-organize. She emphasized the importance of presenting the bicycle as a tool for sustainable urban development, tourism, and climate action, inviting BAB partners to contribute to the event program.

Paweł Bober from Stena Line presented the company’s growing commitment to the development of bicycle tourism. He discussed how Stena Line is adapting its ferry services to the needs of cyclists by introducing transport facilities and travel offers specially designed for people traveling by bicycle. This is part of a broader trend of supporting active and sustainable tourism on ferry routes in the Baltic Sea region.

Finally, Sebastian Małyszczyk from Poland By Locals discussed a practical approach to the development of cycling tourism from a tour operator’s perspective. He highlighted the importance of authentic local experiences, tailored routes, and high-quality infrastructure in building attractive cycling tourism offers, especially in lesser-known locations.

The afternoon session ended with informal networking, after which the partners met for a dinner at the Piwna 47 restaurant in downtown Gdańsk.

Discovering Pomerania’s cycling routes

On Thursday, April 10, participants had the opportunity to explore one of the most picturesque cycling routes in the region. The group gathered at Brama Wyżynna and took a bus to Mikoszewo, where they began a 40-kilometer trip along the Vistula Spit.

The event, organized in cooperation with Poland By Locals, presented various elements of cycling infrastructure, such as road surfaces, signage, and parking spaces. During the tour, participants visited the following points:

• • Beach in Stegna – a popular seaside resort,

• • Sztutowo – a stop in front of the Stutthof Museum,

• • the Vistula Lagoon Museum in Kąty Rybackie,

• • the Canal through the Vistula Spit – an impressive engineering project.

The ride showed how natural landscapes, historical heritage, and well-developed infrastructure can create attractive cycling tourism products. During the trip, the challenges of maintaining routes, signage, and integrating local services that support the cycling experience were also discussed.

Summary

The final partner meeting in Gdańsk was a valuable opportunity to summarize the achievements of the Bike Across the Baltic project, strengthen the cooperation network, and exchange good practices with external stakeholders. With the end of the project, the strong partnership that has been established during its course provides a solid foundation for further initiatives supporting cycling tourism and sustainable travel in the Baltic Sea region.

On April 24 this year, the Pomorskie Tourist Board met with the tourism industry to discuss cooperation, exchange platforms, and strengthening the involvement of partners in specific activities.

We met in a workshop setting to thoroughly explore our challenges and seek solutions. We were hosted by the Shipwreck Conservation Center in Tczew, which is a branch of the National Maritime Museum. At the end, we had the opportunity to visit this unique facility. We will present the results of our work to our members in the near future.

Thank you for your hospitality in Tczew and for the discussions.

List of entities eligible for funding, together with the amount awarded (gross):

1. Słupia River Basin Partnership Foundation – PLN 7,000.00

2. Hevelianum – PLN 8,000.00

3. Local Tourist Organization of Northern Kashubia – PLN 10,000.00

4. Kashubian Agritourism Association “Kościerska Chata” – PLN 6,000.00

5. Kociewie Local Tourist Organization – PLN 10,000.00

6. Sztutowo Municipality Local Tourist Organization – PLN 8,000.00

7. “Pomerania Manors” Association of Palace and Manor Owners – PLN 10,000.00

8. Local Tourist Organization Serce Kaszub (Heart of Kashubia) – PLN 8,000.00

9. Sopot Tourist Organization – PLN 6,000.00

10. Kashubia Tourist Association – PLN 7,000.00

11. Żuławy Association – PLN 10,000.00

 

We would like to thank all applicants for their commitment and congratulate the winners!

Can tourism thrive in times of growing climate pressure? What steps can entrepreneurs and local governments take today to protect their future? We answered these questions during the webinar “Tourism in the face of the climate crisis,” which took place on April 8, 2025, at the initiative of Pomorskie Tourist Board.

The meeting brought together over 50 participants from Pomorskie Region, but also from other regions of Poland – representatives of the tourism industry, local governments, non-governmental and educational organizations, who actively participated in the interaction through the Menti tool. The atmosphere was dynamic, full of inspiration and practical knowledge.

Marta Mills – an expert perspective on challenges and opportunities

The speaker at the meeting was Marta Mills, an international expert in sustainable tourism and climate change, and a consultant for the Global Destination Sustainability Movement. Her presentation clearly showed that climate action in tourism is not only a necessity, but also a huge opportunity for development, building competitive advantage, and customer loyalty.

Marta presented a number of specific examples and data:

• • The impact of climate change on the sector – from fires and floods in popular tourist regions to the need to evacuate tourists and close attractions (e.g., the Acropolis in Athens at 45°C).

• • Changing traveler preferences – growing interest in lesser-known, cooler destinations and expectations of tourism companies in terms of transparency of pro-environmental activities.

• • Tools and strategies – including free carbon footprint calculators (SME Climate Hub, Climate & Strategy), methods for reducing emissions, decarbonization, and improving energy efficiency in hotels and restaurants.

Good practices from the Baltic Sea region

The second part of the meeting presented the CliNeDest – Climate Neutral Destinations project, which aims to support destinations and tourism businesses in climate transition. Participants learned about, among other things:

• • The “Climate Smart Business” toolkit – developed in collaboration with companies to support the planning of decarbonization measures.

• • The Climate Neutral Destination network, which brings together regions striving for low-carbon tourism.

• • Added value for companies: including increased competitiveness, access to expert knowledge, visibility, and the opportunity to promote pro-climate activities.

Presentations from the webinar are available here:

Presentation 1/2

Presentation 2/2

Thanks to their activity in the Menti app, participants shared their feelings, challenges, and ideas. We asked them, among other things, how they assess their climate knowledge, what they see as the greatest threats in their destinations, and what opportunities arise from climate change.

???? The full Menti results are available for download here:

Menti results

???? The webinar recording can be viewed here: Link

Join us for the next meeting on May 6!

We’re not stopping at just one meeting! On May 6, 2025, from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., we invite you to another webinar in the series:

???? “Global criteria and certification for sustainable tourism”

You will learn:

• • What criteria and standards apply to hotels, attractions, events, and destinations.

• • What the different certification systems are and what the costs of implementing them are.

• • How to choose the best program for your organization.

The meeting will be led by Anula Galewska, an international expert and trainer accredited by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council and co-founder of Travinda.

???? Register today: Online registration

Do you have any questions?

Please contact us:

Magda Leszczyna-Rzucidło

???? m.rzucidlo@prot.gda.pl

See you online!

Pomorskie Tourist Board