Developing island communities with tourism in the toolbox

Growing up on a small island near the Atlantic Road, I saw tourism transform my home from quiet to crowded, from isolated to world-famous. One million visitors a year, but few local benefits.

Later I have worked in many places around the world. A lot of island and coastal communities. It’s become my thing.

This talk explores how island communities can use tourism as a tool for resilience, not dependency.
It’s both personal and practical, full of real examples from coastal Norway and other islands I’ve worked with.

Key themes:

• Local value creation

• Mass tourism and its limits

• Cruise, connectivity, and community resilience