Discover the achievements of the 2014-2020 NPA projects
Seven years of cooperation between people, communities, and organisations across thousands of kilometres made a difference in the Northern Periphery and Arctic regions.
Browse the NPA map of results to discover our stories of cooperation. Pick a dot from the map and scroll down to read about people who have met similar minded colleagues and together found solutions for their shared challenges.
Use the +/- buttons in the top left corner of the map to zoom in/out or click on the regions to display the NPA project stories.
Kaffemik in Nuuk
Discovering local people and cultures with respect
The Arctic region is rich in natural and cultural resources. As the interest in travelling and exploring the Arctic has increased in recent years, tourism companies and SMEs are competing in offering the most authentic experience to the visitors or selling the most traditional indigenous product. While visitng Sisimiut and Nuuk (one of the benchmarking trips), the ARCTISEN team could relate to the feelings of curiosity and excitement that often drives tourists to disrespect locals and for example take pictures of private backyards or look through peoples´ windows. Therefore, the ARCTISEN project looked at how to satisfy tourists´ curiosity and urge to explore new cultures, while at the same time respecting local cultures and people. The project developed tools to help tourism-oriented SMEs in creating unique experiences where locals are involved in sharing their cultures, homes, and traditions. These solutions provided inspiration on how other regions in the NPA can develop culturally sensitive tourism products and services.
Photo credit: Louise Romain and Monika Luthje