Nurturing Nature – regenerative tourism development

The aim of Nurturing Nature (NuNa)

Nature is under pressure – both on land and at sea. That is why we want to create experiences where guests do not just visit a place, but also gain a better understanding of it and have the opportunity to make a contribution. This could be by choosing considerate experiences, supporting local initiatives or taking part in activities that help nature and enhance knowledge of the area’s history and culture.

Through Nurturing Nature, we aim to demonstrate that tourism can be part of the solution: a way to experience new places whilst also looking after them better. Every visit should forge a connection between people, nature and the local environment, so that the place’s potential is recognised and promoted.

The project aims to:

Train local facilitators in collaborative processes.
Develop sustainable tourism experiences in at least 12 local communities.
Create a new narrative in marketing with a focus on responsible tourism.
Support long-term quality of life and sustainable growth in the region.

Specifically, we will develop and support selected locations and local communities – from South Funen in Denmark to the Baltic Sea coast and inland areas of Schleswig-Holstein – in developing, testing and raising the profile of new regenerative tourism offerings. We do this in close collaboration with local stakeholders.

Illustration af eksempel på en dag ved stranden, hvor gæster og lokale lære at lave mad med tang og krabber, hvor sidstnævnte afhjælper presset på fiskeyngel.

Photo: Jesper Lind Jans / 10gdf.dk© Illustration af eksempel på en dag ved stranden, hvor gæster og lokale lære at lave mad med tang og krabber, hvor sidstnævnte afhjælper presset på fiskeyngel.

Regenerative Tourism – what is it?

A concept surrounded by a great deal of hype that is difficult to define in concrete terms, but in short, regenerative tourism goes further than traditional sustainable tourism.

In the Nurturing Nature project, we work on the basis of this idea:
“You are part of a living system where everything is interconnected. For tourism, this means healing ecosystems, strengthening local communities, and celebrating and promoting a region’s unique character.”
– Prof. Dr Julius Stephan, DHSH

We have developed three overarching guidelines for regenerative tourism:

1. Think in terms of living systems
People are part of nature – not separate from it. Therefore, tourism must be conceived and carried out in the context of a place’s potential for life: nature, people, business and cultural life.

2. Take the place as your starting point
Every area has its own qualities, histories and challenges. Therefore, there is no single solution that suits every place. Regenerative tourism must be based on the specific place’s potential for experiences, whilst respecting its nature, people and unique character.

3. Strengthen diversity in the long term
The aim is to support nature and local communities so that, over time, they become more diverse, resilient and vibrant. This requires a long-term perspective and an awareness of the fact that development is not a one-off task, but an ongoing process in which one must constantly listen, learn and adapt.

Organisation of the project

With the The South Fyn Archipelago UNESCO Global Geopark as lead partner, NuNa brings together 10 partners from Denmark and Germany in a strong project organisation.

The project partners are as follows:

BUND Landesverband Schleswig-Holstein e.V.
Ostsee-Holstein-Tourismus
Duale Hochschule Schleswig-Holstein
Destination Fyn
UCL Business Academy and University College S/I
Ærø Tourist and Business Association
Faaborg-Midtfyn Municipality
Langeland Municipality
Svendborg Municipality

In addition, over 20 network partners are involved, contributing their expertise and activities. These include, for example, a local campsite, a German nature park, Local Action Groups and biodiversity stakeholders.

Project plan: From interest to implementation

September–December 2026: Training/qualification of facilitators and stewards
October 2026–August 2027: Co-creation processes at selected locations (1–3 facilitated co-creation workshops per location)
From April 2027 to July 2028: Implementation and testing of the developed programmes, as well as exchange with the other participating locations within the framework of a cross-border network
January 2027–July 2028: Marketing and development of a plan to ensure the continued existence of the initiatives