SITE Destination 4 municipalities - 2 countries 1 tourist destination? 23 april 2013
Agenda History of the SITE-region SITE Destination Examples of SITE s work (skills and infrastructure) Sälen Trysil Airport Center
SITE = a region in the heart of Scandinavia SITE Sälen, Idre, Trysil & Engerdal
SITE - the size of a small country 16,421 km2 (Slovenia 20,273km2) Engerdal 2,195 km2 Trysil 3,015 km2 Malung-Sälen 4,339 km2 Älvdalen 6,872 km2 Population of 25,396
History of the SITE region Forest industry Started in 1850 s - present day Leather industry Started in 1930 s 2000-3000 employed Production moved to Asia in 70 s-80 s
History of the SITE region Engerdal and Älvdalen has Norway s and Sweden s most southern Sami population Northern Europes largest downhill skiing area (Sälen-Trysil-Idre)
Tourism and infrastructure in Sälen 20 22 37 46 60 s 1973/74 77 70-80 90 s 2010 2013 2050? 1st Vasaloppet 119 participants Railway Malung-Lima- Sälen-Särna* The hotel Högis is built in Sälen 1st ski slope in Sälen Sälenstugan The ski resorts Tandådalen, Hundfjället Lindvallen open The railway is removed *http://vasterdalsbanan.webs.com/omvsterdalsbanan.htm 10 000 skiiers in Vasaloppet The car is the transport mode for tourists The ski resorts Stöten (76)/ Kläppen (82) open Alpine skiing is becoming increasingly popular 15000 skiiers in Vasaloppet (65 000 skiiers/week) Approval to develp international airport Political agreement between SITE municipalities to strenghten year round tourism in SITEregion
Challenges Ageing population Fewer women than men Scarcely populated Lack of public transport Seasonal tourism creates uneven job market unsustainable situation for the local authorities Only national authorities present are governmental job centres
Opportunities Northern Europe s largest alpine skiing area Three national parks and countless nature reserves Winter tourism is prevalent in Älvdalen, Malung-Sälen & Trysil Summer tourism is prevalent in Engerdal
Opportunities Political agreement 5 th October 2010 beginning of interreg-project SITE Destination Become an international tourist destination Turn seasonal tourism into all year-round tourism Use the strengths of the two countries and four municipalities to complement each other Enable a cross-border tourism industry
SITE DESTINATION
Interreg decision To strengthen the region as a tourist destination. A central part of the project is to plan for how the public sector can support the private sector and by doing so contribute to regional development. Focus areas Public service, skills and infrastructure. The project is an example of how planning processes require local, regional, national and international actors to cooperate.
Norwegian Government EU project funding 2011-2014 SITE s local authorities contribute with staff resource Swedish regional authorities Norwegian regional authorities Region Dalarna Länsstyrelsen Hedmark Fylkes kommune
Focus areas Work strategically with civil servants/other stakeholders to support the development of a functional cross-border region Public service Infrastructure (transport) Skills
Approach Improve basis for decision making Surveys Reports Acts as link and door opener between: Civil servants in the local authorities Local authorities and regional actors Stakeholders and authorities The team All work is carried out in collaboration with permanent actors /stakeholders Two of our interns
SKILLS - SELECTION OF ACTIVITIES
PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT
Skills, innovation and product development Entreprenurship weekend 2013 (eco-tourism students from Malungs folkhögskola discuss product development with local entrepreneurs from Engerdal)
Analysing the tourism industry in SITE Study visit with Högskolan Dalarna october 2011
International students present analysis SITE Destination Steering Group meeting 21 februari 2013 in Särna
EDUCATION
Campus Sälen/Campus Trysil Enhance skills of seasonal staff Provide alternative activity for seasonal staff during low season Strengthen the private and public sector in the four municipalities Strengthen the role of the regional universities Increase the number of long-term inhabitants Located in the slopes of Lindvallen
Results Campus Sälen launched in september 2012 30 students signed up to distance learning in Campus Sälen 3 adapted courses offered summer 2013 Campus Trysil due to be launched by SITE, Skistar, Högskolan Hedmark och Studiesenter.no in september 2013 Opening of Campus Sälen
Challenges For the universities to: adapt their term dates. Free start will enable seasonal staff to stay in the region and study during low season Identify courses that will strenghten the tourism industry and other local industries be present on campus as advisors, tutors and lecturers
INFRASTRUCTURE
Who are our potential visitors? Who are our future employees? Who are our future entreprenurs? How will they travel?
Accessibility crucial to regional development
Public transport Current status No public transport between Sweden and Norway Limited public transport between the collaborating municipalities on each side of the border
Engage decision makers in dialogue Study visit Dalatrafik and Region Dalarna May2012
Engage private sector in dialgoue Second transport conference December 2011
Research to establish youths attitudes to public transport Survey Älvdalens Utbildningscentrum May 2012
Transport survey visitors in Sälen andtrysil Februari mars 2013
The SITE-model? Stage 1: engage decision makers and private sector in dialogue Transport conference Mora, Sälen & Trysil Study visit Region Dalarna and Dalatrafik Stage 4: evaluate results Working group transport information Working group road (maintenance) Working group public transport? Heads of integration Stage 3: planning (tangible solutions and long term needs) local authorities, regional authorities and private sector. Stage 2: Improve basis for decision making Transport survey in schools / visitors Sälen & Trysil Mapping out events in SITE-region Develop roadmap for transport
Sälen Trysil Airport Center
Location, location, location... 2 timer 3 Femund 100 min Idre Fulufjellet Trysil 15 min Sälen Älvdalen 40 min Malung Mora 3 Elverum 80 min 75 min
The runway
Historical background Need for increased accessibility to attract more guests triggered initial thought about international airport Enthusiasts, public and private sector began talks about expanding existing runway in 2006 Environmental impact assessment carried out 2009 deemed to have insufficient data New environmental impact assessment was approved by Environmental court 11th february 2013
Our options An airport that functions merely as transit area? Or Airport Centre Airport Shopping mall Business center Common service from municipalities
Airport centre trigger for regional development 3 Femund Idre Trysil Stöten RÖRBÄCKSNÄS 3 Elverum Fulufjellet Tandådalen-Hundfjället Lindvallen Airport Cross border shopping Service Business center Activities Kläppen Malung Älvdalen Mora
Benefits of an airport center Attracts investors from other industries to use airport for travel and business Enables routes to operate 365 days / year Shared use of properties (car park, retail center, staff etc) increases resource efficiency and lower costs Creates opportunities for increased service to the public (public transport, shopping etc)
Who should own/run the airport? Broad ownership that represents public and private sector sector interests: Regional development Increased year round tourism Property development Sustainable operations of airport Airport as enabler for public service e.g. public transport
Next step Sälen Trysil Airport Center Business case currently prepared by Borg Consulting on behalf of Sälen-Trysil Airport AB
Next step Sälen Trysil Airport Center Passive approach someone else decides on route ahead Active choice what decisions will enable sustainable regional development?