Project Partners Meet in Jämtland Härjedalen, Sweden

Part of the Sustainable Arctic and Peripheral Biking tourism project is that we project managers get the opportunity to visit the other countries that are part of the project. The purpose of it is to see how cycling tourism works (or doesn't work) in the other countries. Previously we have visited Posio in Eastern Lapland in northern Finland and Tórshavn in the Faroe Islands. Now in September, the trip went here to Jämtland Härjedalen.

We started in Östersund with an inspiration day for cycling and cycle tourism. From Östersund's municipality, we heard Jens Tirén talk about how the development of cycling has taken place on Östberget. Helena Jansson, also from the municipality, talked about the Vintertramparna and how that project has changed winter cycling in the city. Johan Ranbrandt then concluded by telling how he, as a landowner, has built several cycle and ski trails in combination with still carrying out forestry. His motto was that you should use what you have and "dig where you stand".

Cycling in Lofsdalen
The journey continued to Lofsdalen where, since 2019, a bike park for mountain biking has been built with the help of support from the EU. The goal of it is to attract tourism all year round and thus have a more sustainable living situation in the village, which has 150 permanent residents. During our visit there, we had the opportunity to take a bike ride in the park. It was very useful and fun both for us in the project and for those who work in the bike park. What we consider to be a green trail (beginner trail) may in fact be an advanced trail for those who have never cycled on anything other than asphalt before. Who is the beginner and who do we want to reach to our destinations? If the destinations in Jämtland Härjedalen are to target international guests, these are important questions to ask.

The international guests were very impressed by the park and could not see that similar exists in their countries. They also saw a great opportunity for the development of road cycling in the area with great views and small roads.

Tänndalen's development
As a contrast to Lofsdalen's well-funded EU project, we visited Tänndalen, which has also built cycle paths in recent years. Their goal with bicycle tourism is also to have a more sustainable year-round tourism. As they have a lift facility that costs money all year round, they want to reduce the loss by attracting guests even during the bare ground season. They do this partly through cycle tourism, but also through other events and ventures.

They have built their bike park themselves and over a longer period of time and at a lower cost. It has evolved from being mostly cross-country mountain biking to a simpler downhill area. From here we learned that you can plan for the guests to behave in a certain way, but that reality often gives something completely different and that the strength lies in being able to adapt to it.

Inspiration in Funäsdalen
We ended our trip with another day of inspiration in Funäsdalen. There we had visitors from all over the region. They got to listen and be inspired by Lofsdalen's development, Tänndalen's work and Funäsfjällen's management company.

What we really take away from these meetings and the trips around the region is that it is very useful to meet in real life. Conversations get better, ideas flow and new collaborations are forged. Both regionally but also internationally. My guests went home full of inspiration and ideas.

Text: Mia Wiktor Lunde