Current projects

Sustainable Trail Development in the Umeå Region 2023–2024

Umeå Municipality was the project owner of a collaborative initiative between the municipalities of Umeå, Vindeln, Robertsfors, Vännäs, and Bjurholm. The project, titled “Sustainable Trail Development in the Umeå Region”, had a total budget of approximately SEK 4.7 million. The funding aimed to develop infrastructure for hiking trails and was partly financed through the Rural Development Programme 2014–2020, supported by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development.

The purpose of the Sustainable Trail Development project was to: take a coordinated approach to the trails in the Umeå region that were considered to have the greatest potential for development, and to ensure long-term sustainability through measures that support and strengthen the growth of local businesses. The project partners jointly aimed to create a network of safe, secure, and high-quality trails, thereby establishing the region as a hiking and cycling destination. Collaboration took place between the municipalities of Umeå, Vindeln, Robertsfors, Vännäs, and Bjurholm.

The goal was to: develop hiking and mountain biking (MTB) trails in accordance with the national framework and based on experiences and recommendations from leading MTB destinations. The project focused on physical improvements to trails with the greatest natural and recreational value and potential for tourism. These improvements included surfacing, boardwalks, bridges, signage, and facilities (such as toilets and shelters). Additionally, the project aimed to make it easier for residents and visitors to find and access the trails through information boards and wayfinding signs.

In total, improvement measures covered approximately 335 kilometers of trails.

The trails included in the project were: Tavelsjöleden** (Umeå Municipality), trails in the Strömbäck-Kont Nature Reserve (Umeå Municipality), Ume Älvdal Trail (Umeå Municipality), trails in Holmsund (Västerlångslädans Trail, Holmsundsleden) (Umeå Municipality), Grössjön (Umeå Municipality), Öreälvsleden (Bjurholm Municipality), Tvåälvsleden (Vindeln Municipality), Rödåleden (Vindeln Municipality), Isälvsleden (Vindeln Municipality), Flottarstigen (Robertsfors Municipality), VännforsledenandLångforsens recreation area (Vännäs Municipality).

Project Period: 2023–2024
Financing: Approved funding: SEK 4.7 million. Utilized funding: SEK 2.9 million

Read more about the investment (only available in swedish)

Contact and more information
Johanna Palmlöf Brus, Destination developer Umeå region
+46 70 615 40 33, [email protected]
 

 

Västerbotten Sweden

Västerbotten's three destination organizations Visit Umeå, Visit Skellefteå and Gold of Lapland, together with the regional organization Region Västerbotten Turism, have applied for and been granted funding in the collaboration project Västerbotten Sweden. It is the first joint, county-wide, project ever within the county's hospitality industry where all the county's municipalities are involved. Through the project, hospitality companies will get closer to each other, gain exposure and strengthen their knowledge of exports. The place brand Västerbotten Sweden must work with and for companies with quality-assured, attractive and more sustainable experiences. This creates a uniform and attractive range that is primarily aimed at international guests.

Project period: 2023-2025
Financing: SEK 30 million

Read more about the investment in a joint press release (only available in swedish)

Contact and more information
Karl Frykholm, Project manager Västerbotten Sweden,

+46 70 647 62 02, [email protected]

Bothnian Coastal Route

The Bothnian Coastal Route project aims to increase awareness of the coastal route across the Kvarken and around the Gulf of Bothnia as an attractive travel route for both foreign visitors and the local population. Through the project, the aim is to increase the reasons to visit the destinations along the route to discover their rich product range and at the same time create better conditions for sustainable growth. The granted funding involves an extensive collaboration between three Swedish and four Finnish organizations where they come together as project partners in a three-year Interreg Aurora project starting from January 2023.

Project period: 2023-2025
Financing: SEK 30 million

Read more about the investment 

Contact and more information
Erja Back, Project manager Bothnian Coastal Route
070-647 62 78, [email protected]