In just a moment, on October 1-2, we will meet at the European Solidarity Center for the next Baltic Sea Tourism Forum, and Gdańsk will become the center of discussions about the future of tourism in the Baltic Sea region.
Together, we will focus on the topics of regenerative and data-driven tourism—key directions for the development of the industry. We are expecting record attendance. Registration closed a few weeks ago due to overwhelming interest, but you can still join the waiting list—we encourage you to sign up.
Below you will find detailed information about the Forum, its program, speakers, and event partners.
About the Forum:
The Baltic Sea Tourism Forum (BSTF) is an annual forum of the Tourism Policy Area of the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region, organized continuously since 2008. The aim of this event is to promote dialogue, build consensus, and develop a shared vision of the key challenges related to the development of tourism in the Baltic Sea region.
The Forum contributes significantly to the implementation of the macro-regional strategy and actions adopted by the European Commission, such as the “EU Pathway to Tourism.” The forum attracts key stakeholders in the tourism industry, including representatives of local and regional tourism organizations, regional authorities, local governments, organizations and entities implementing Interreg projects related to tourism, NGOs, and representatives of SMEs operating in the field of tourism.
This year’s agenda and theme:
🌿 Regenerative and data-driven tourism
BSTF2025 will bring together key industry representatives to discuss the future of sustainable, regenerative, and data-driven tourism in the Baltic Sea region.
Day 1: Regenerative tourism
Day 2: Data-driven tourism
💬 Keynote speeches | 💡 Good practices | 👥 Networking | 🎓 Masterclasses
Event organizers:
✅ Coordinators of the Tourism Policy Area of the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region (EUSBSR)
✅ Ministry of Sport and Tourism of the Republic of Poland
✅ LOT Polish Airlines
✅ Pomorskie Tourist Board
✅ Pohjois-Pohjanmaan liitto – Oulu Regional Council (Finland)
✅ European Solidarity Center
with the support of the Interreg Baltic Sea Region program
Date and venue:
📅 October 1–2, 2025
📍 European Solidarity Center (ECS), pl. Solidarności 1, Gdańsk
Keynote speakers:
🌟 Anna Pollock, founder of Conscious.Travel
With over 52 years of experience in the tourism industry, Anna is a globally recognized visionary, strategist, and authority. For 15 years, Anna has been setting the direction for regenerative tourism, giving new meaning to how we perceive travel, the social aspects of tourism, and our planet. Her knowledge and approach are not only inspiring, but essential for responsibly shaping the future of tourism.
Anna’s main areas of activity:
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- challenging outdated paradigms – understanding the causes of crises and the need for profound systemic change,
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- empowering local communities – moving from a quantitative model to one that enables communities to develop in harmony with nature,
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- redefining hospitality—as a driving force for landscape restoration, regenerative agriculture, and cultural renewal.
🌟 Andreas Koch, trainer, sustainable tourism consultant, speaker, and founder of tourythm and Futouris e.V.
With over 25 years of experience, Andreas supports destinations and tourism companies in moving from talking about sustainability to taking real regenerative action. His conviction is clear: tourism has the power to contribute to a better world – as long as we practice it consciously and responsibly.
His speech at this year’s Forum will challenge and inspire us to go beyond “business as usual” and embrace regenerativity as a path of development for the Baltic Sea region and beyond.
