From 3 to 5 September, 3ST partners met in Skåne, Sweden, to strengthen collaboration and align strategy with practice. Through workshops and discussions, we streamlined activities to drive sustainable tourism forward. Read more below.
Collaboration starts with knowing each other. That’s why our 3ST partner meeting in Skåne focused on strengthening relationships between the 14 partners from across the North Sea Region. We kicked off with engaging breakout sessions where partners introduced themselves, both personally and professionally, laying the groundwork for stronger cooperation and better alignment across the project.
Exploring the Theory of Change
A key focus of the meeting was ensuring that our knowledge-driven approach connects effectively with practice. During the Theory of Change (ToC) workshop, our knowledge partners introduced this methodology to the pilot partners. ToC will serve as a guiding framework throughout 3ST, helping structure sustainable tourism initiatives and ensuring that project activities remain impact-driven. Discussions highlighted both the opportunities and challenges of applying ToC, emphasizing the need for ongoing alignment between strategic planning and practical implementation.
Streamlining our next steps
As pilot projects are now taking shape, we focused on aligning knowledge with practice—ensuring that research findings and strategies are well-connected with real-world application. Partners shared progress updates, lessons learned, and challenges encountered, leading to constructive discussions on how to streamline activities across work packages. Stakeholder engagement emerged as a key priority, with partners exchanging strategies for involving local communities and businesses more effectively.
Building relationships the Swedish way
Beyond the meetings, we had the chance to experience the local culture of Skåne, including a traditional Swedish lobster feast. This informal setting provided the perfect opportunity to strengthen our connections while enjoying local seafood and hospitality.
A huge thank you to Visit Skåne for hosting this productive and inspiring meeting. Now, it’s time to turn our refined strategy into action and ensure that knowledge and practice remain closely connected as we move forward!