The third local Tourism4SDG meeting in Tartu brought together representatives of Tartu County municipalities and sectoral partners around one table. At the start of the meeting, Visit Tartu’s Sustainable Tourism Coordinator Miia Maris Praks shared insights from a recent study visit to Hungary, highlighting practical examples of how destinations can integrate sustainability goals into both policymaking and day-to-day management.
The discussion then turned to the Tartu County Development Strategy 2040, which serves as the project’s main policy instrument. The county’s aim is to incorporate sustainable tourism objectives into the strategy, but to do so, it is first necessary to agree on how to measure sustainability in tourism. Central questions included: Which data is already available in Tartu County? What can be put to use immediately? And where are new systems needed? Participants emphasized that measurement must be simple, transparent, and regular—only then can the figures be trusted to reflect real progress.
The ultimate goal is for the results of measurement to help allocate resources more effectively, strengthen cooperation between partners, and clearly show in which areas tourism in Tartu County has already moved towards more sustainable practices—and where further steps are still required. The third meeting confirmed that there is strong readiness in Tartu County to link sustainability ambitions with concrete actions and measurable outcomes. This approach supports transparency, fosters collaboration, and guides decisions that benefit local residents, businesses, and visitors alike.
For more information, contact: Miia Maris Praks, Sustainable Tourism Coordinator, miia.praks@visittartu.com