Smart Growth
The province of Fryslân prioritises smart growth as a fundamental principle in its policy for the hospitality economy. Smart growth helps to rethink the development of tourism and recreation in an innovative way, with the aim to positively contribute to addressing the major livability and sustainability challenges Fryslân will face in the coming years. This project aims to collect and present both international and national perspectives to make the concept of ‘smart growth’ clearer and more tangible. The report provides an overview and offers recommendations for interpreting and concretizing this concept in Fryslân. Using a quick scan, we mapped out the conceptual frameworks, perspectives, locations, projects, networks, and individuals around the world engaged in smart growth.
Reason
The recent policy of the Province of Fryslân demonstrates the need for and possibility of an alternative approach to tourism and recreation. In the province, the term smart growth is increasingly embraced and has been central in various policy documents published in recent years, such as the Gastvrij Fryslân 2028 policy document, the Gastvrij Fryslân 2028 Implementation Program, the Gastvrij Fryslân Program Plan 2024-2028, and the “Position paper Gastvrij Fryslân” by Martin Boisen (For The Love of Place). To continue promoting the future of hospitality in Fryslân, it is essential to assess the effectiveness of the smart growth policy and explore how this policy can be further strengthened with inspiring international examples. This way, smart growth can become even more meaningful for the Frisian policy practice.
Problem solution
The report resulting from the project provides an overview of international and national insights that help clarify and concretise the concept of “smart growth”. The report provides an overview and offers recommendations for interpreting and concretising this concept in Fryslân. Using a quick scan, we mapped out the conceptual frameworks, perspectives, locations, projects, networks, and individuals around the world engaged in smart growth.
The project team consisted of:
- Jasper Heslinga and Stefan Hartman (NHL Stenden/ETFI), the project is commissioned by the Province of Fryslân.
Approach
The quick scan for this project is based on the extensive knowledge and experience of Jasper Heslinga and Stefan Hartman. A lot of useful input was provided through a working session with a group of (international) tourism experts from NHL Stenden University of Applied Sciences. The content of this quick scan has been discussed multiple times with the working team of the provincial task ‘Smart Growth’. The draft version was presented on September 8, 2023, in a brainstorm session focused on the concept of smart growth. Every step has contributed to the enrichment of the final product as it currently stands.
Results
This project resulted in a publication with a comprehensive overview of the frameworks, perspectives, locations, projects, networks, and individuals around the world that are engaged in smart growth. The results were also presented in the ‘Smart Growth Think Tank’ by Stefan Hartman. Through this think tank, ‘Smart Growth’ was further developed for Friesland in the form of a pamphlet. The project has also led to the creation of an in-depth document.
This research project ran from May 2023 till October 2023
