Driving Sustainable Tourism Development in Tartu County
The Tourism4SDG project brings Tartu County into international cooperation aimed at promoting sustainable tourism and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Co-funded by the Interreg Europe 2021–2027 programme, the project connects different regions across Europe with a common goal: to improve tourism policy measures in ways that support the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals within the tourism sector.
For Tartu County, this means focusing on the Tartu County Development Strategy 2040, an essential policy document shaping the region’s tourism future. As a result of the project, specific sustainable tourism-related updates will be introduced into the strategy, based on thorough self-assessment and interregional knowledge exchange. The project particularly focuses on SDG target 12.b: “develop and implement tools to monitor sustainable development impacts for sustainable tourism.”
The Tourism4SDG project moves beyond the question, “How can tourism become more sustainable?” and instead asks, “How sustainable is tourism actually becoming?” This approach demands a critical evaluation of existing tourism measures, conscious reflection, and the definition of new directions that meet sustainability expectations both locally and internationally.
The four-year project period involves an interregional learning process where knowledge is developed through experience-sharing and collaboration, laying the foundation for more informed and data-driven policymaking. The goal is for strategic decisions in sustainable tourism not to be random or vague but to be based on valuable information and best practices – ensuring that sustainability is not just a goal but a measurable and actionable outcome.
Tourism4SDG – so that Tartu County’s tourism grows with the future, not at the expense of it.
Tourism That Protects Tomorrow
Project name: Tourism4SDG
Funder: Interreg Europe
The project started on April 1, 2024, and will run until June 30, 2028.
The total project budget is €2,009,113.
For more information about the Tourism4SDG project: Miia Maris Praks, Sustainable Tourism Coordinator miia.praks@visittartu.com
Project partners
The implementation of the project is supported by a multi-level and diverse partnership, bringing together 10 European countries, including 8 project partners from EU member states and 2 associated partners. The partners operate at different levels of governance – local, regional, and national – enabling mutual learning and the adaptation of solutions to meet regional needs. This territorial and international cooperation creates a unique opportunity to collect and compare data on sustainable tourism monitoring, supporting more informed and data-driven decision-making across Europe.
In addition to international cooperation, each participating region engages local stakeholders — including municipalities, tourism businesses, community representatives, and environmental experts. Their active involvement ensures that the solutions developed take into account regional specificities, needs, and opportunities, and that the development of sustainable tourism is based on broad-based cooperation and inclusive participation.
Stay updated on the latest developments by following us on Tourism4SDG LinkedIn.
International Project Partners
Intermunicipal Community of the Coimbra Region (Lead Partner) | Portugal
Iberian Association of Riverside Municipalities of the Duero (AIMRD) | Spain
Lublin Voivodeship | Poland
Municipality of Nyíregyháza | Hungary
Visit Zuid-Limburg | Netherlands
Community of La Rochelle | France
Ministry of Economics of the Republic of Latvia | Latvia
Tartumaa Tourism Foundation (SA Tartumaa Turism) | Estonia
Regional Council of Durrës | Albania
Municipality of Sokobanja | Serbia
Local Stakeholders in Tartu County
Tartumaa Tourism Foundation (SA Tartumaa Turism)
Association of Municipalities of Tartu County (Tartumaa Omavalitsuste Liit)
Tartu City Government (Tartu Linnavalitsus)
Municipality of Kastre (Kastre vald)
Municipality of Peipsiääre (Peipsiääre vald)
Municipality of Luunja (Luunja vald)
Municipality of Elva (Elva vald)
Municipality of Nõo (Nõo vald)
Municipality of Tartu (Tartu vald)
Municipality of Kambja (Kambja vald)
Business Advisory Centre (Ärinõuandla)
Tartu County Development Association (Tartumaa Arendusselts, TAS)
Sibulatee (Onion Route)
Overview of the Current State of Tourism in Tartu County
Read also the Regional State of Art Report for Tartu County (2025), prepared as part of the Tourism4SDG project, which compiles data, analyses, and strategic directions for the development of sustainable tourism in Tartu County. The report highlights the region’s strengths and challenges, examines the local tourism network, provides statistical insights, and showcases best practices.
At the final stage of the project, the report will be updated based on the knowledge and proposals gathered throughout the process. This revised version will serve as a foundation for integrating tourism-related changes into the Tartu County Development Strategy 2040.
