Linda Lundmark explores how the tourism labour market is changing in the Arctic

As an Arctic Six Chair, Linda Lundmark focuses on the internationalisation of the tourism labour market in Arctic regions. The initiative builds on and expands her ongoing research into a broader Arctic context. She aims to investigate how these developments affect businesses and local communities and to contribute knowledge about potential success factors for sustainable development in rural Arctic areas.

Tourism and labour in the Arctic

Linda Lundmark is Associate Professor of Human Geography at Umeå University and conducts research on the Arctic and sparsely populated regions. Her research examines, among other things, how tourism influences economic and social change in northern Sweden and the Arctic, with a focus on seasonal employment, mobility and resource-based economies.

The Arctic Six Chair enables her to expand an ongoing project on the tourism labour market in northern Sweden, funded by the Kampradstiftelsen, by including more international cases and perspectives. She is also involved in a NAPA-funded project aimed at developing knowledge across the Arctic region.

Lundmark is also active in the Horizon Europe project ArcticKnows, a three-year project exploring how Arctic communities can develop regenerative, climate-smart and inclusive local economies. Her work focuses on regenerative tourism models and the ability of local communities to influence their development.

When there are not enough workers

In many Arctic regions, tourism businesses struggle to find skilled workers. Outmigration, an ageing population, limited mobility and competition from other sectors, all contribute to these challenges.

International recruitment has therefore become an important strategy. At the same time, a workforce increasingly recruited from outside the region can change the relationship between tourism businesses and local communities. Among other things, Lundmark wants to investigate how migrant tourism workers are included and how businesses manage the challenges that arise.

This is a particular challenge in rural Arctic areas, where long distances, limited infrastructure and strong seasonal variations make access to labour more difficult.

We hope the results will provide guidance on issues related to long-term recruitment and on what can support forms of migration that contribute more to local communities than temporary tourism employment for a replaceable and transient workforce.

Knowledge that can be used locally

The aim is to work together with national and local actors to develop knowledge about these challenges and about what can contribute to the more sustainable development of the tourism labour market. The results can inform decision-making and contribute to higher education and continued research on sustainable tourism in the Arctic.

“Interdisciplinary and international collaboration between different actors in the region is crucial for developing solutions adapted to ongoing and rapid structural changes, an issue that is more pressing than ever,” says Linda Lundmark.

Relocation within Sweden is a slow process, even when job opportunities are available elsewhere. When rapid solutions are needed, the outcome is often not what was intended, for example when relying on a more mobile and readily available workforce from other countries. If these moves are to become more permanent and benefit both workers and local communities, more long-term solutions are needed.

“We hope the results will provide guidance on issues related to long-term recruitment and on what can support forms of migration that contribute more to local communities than temporary tourism employment for a replaceable and transient workforce,” says Linda Lundmark.

From research to joint action

The Arctic Six Chair builds on an established Nordic Arctic research network involving Umeå University, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, the University of Lapland and the University of Oulu, among others.

One concrete example of this collaboration is Northern Tourism in Practice, which will take place during week 45 with around 40 participants and brings together the different collaborations mentioned above.

The plans include a three-day workshop in Umeå and Abisko, where researchers, doctoral students, tourism actors and local partners can meet to compare data and experiences from selected case-study areas, including Västerbotten and Norrbotten. Local actors will then discuss the results and jointly develop recommendations.

In addition, a workshop in Finland and participation in the UArctic Assembly are planned.

The initiative also includes education. Lundmark aims to continue developing interdisciplinary doctoral education and to deepen international and interdisciplinary collaboration within the Arctic Six Alliance.