Exploring Blekinge means stepping into a place shaped by waters, forests, islands and people who care deeply about the region. LOVER is our code of conduct — created to help everyone enjoy this place with care and respect.
Whether you're here for a moment, a weekend, the whole summer — or call Blekinge home — you’re invited to explore, enjoy and help Blekinge thrive.
This is our code of conduct – a kind reminder of things to keep in mind while enjoying the wonders of Blekinge. The small gestures and the crucial actions that help preserve and protect what’s precious.
Handle nature, people, and the local community with love and respect, and you’ll have no trouble qualifying as the ultimate Blekinge lover.
Preserving the natural and cultural areas that add value and make a place unique is sustainable – and hugely important. Blekinge has excellent conditions for meeting the criteria set by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC), and in 2025 we took a major step when we were awarded the Green Destinations Gold Award for our sustainability work.
But here in Blekinge, we aim higher. We want to go beyond simply minimising negative impact – our aim is for tourism to give more than it takes – to be regenerative. For our destination to grow and thrive because you, as a visitor or someone who lives here, help to strengthen, improve and energise Blekinge.
As a step towards becoming a regenerative destination, we have created a code of conduct for five important areas – a guide for how we can help in being considerate and leave nothing but love behind.
Keep an eye out for the heart symbol as you explore and experience Blekinge!
L – Local culture & community
Be respectful and show interest by being careful around cultural sites. Be mindful of residents and landowners, support local businesses, and follow the rules for parking and access. And keep noise levels down to avoid disturbing local everyday life.
O – Observe and care for nature
Move gently in nature while appreciating your Freedom to roam. Stay on marked trails, use fire responsibly, and avoid disturbing sensitive environments. Keep to established paths to protect soil, plant life and the landscapes you’re here to enjoy.
V – Vital waters
Our waters are vital. Use fresh water responsibly. Do not pee or empty boat toilets in lakes, streams, or the sea. Follow local rules for anchoring and boating to protect both wildlife and the water quality.
E – Empathy for wildlife
You’re their guest – adapt and show that you care. Respect wildlife by keeping a distance from seabirds and grazing animals, closing gates behind you and keeping dogs leashed. Pay attention to protected areas and information on fishing bans.
R – Remove your trace
Leave nothing but footprints … and love. Bring all your waste back home, pick up any litter you come across along the way, and bury toilet waste. When possible, choose walking, cycling or public transport to reduce the wear and tear and the environmental impact.
Blekinge LOVER is part of our ongoing work to develop Blekinge into a future regenerative destination. It is a shared movement built on respect, care and local pride created to highlight the county as a role model in responsible tourism and to inspire both visitors and residents to make thoughtful choices.
With its heart symbol and clear, friendly messages, LOVER offers gentle reminders rather than rules. It is designed for everyone: simple for businesses to adopt, easy for guests to follow, and open for anyone to share. If you live the LOVER mindset, you help spread it.
LOVER belongs to all and no one, just as Blekinge’s nature and coastline are shared treasures. By encouraging considerate behaviour, LOVER complements the region’s wider sustainability efforts from Green Destinations and GSTC criteria to awardwinning collaborations such as ARK56.
Together, these initiatives help ensure that Blekinge remains vibrant, welcoming and full of memorable experiences for everyone who spends time here.
The visitor economy is a major asset to Blekinge’s development across cities, rural areas, forests, and the archipelago. To secure long-term growth and maintain what makes the region unique, tourism needs to evolve responsibly and align with global sustainability goals and national environmental quality objectives.
Blekinge has strong potential to grow without compromising its natural and cultural values. Our regional visitor strategy, adopted in 2025 and looking toward 2030, is based on the principle of regenerative tourism aiming to leave the place in a better state than it was found.
The strategy was developed together with Region Blekinge, Visit Blekinge, municipalities, the industry, academia, civil society, and neighbouring regions.
Blekinge has chosen to work toward certification as a sustainable destination through the Green Destinations standard, a structured framework for improving how we care for nature, culture, and local communities.
Read more about the certification: https://www.greendestinations.org/certification/
To strengthen long-term efforts, the region follows the criteria of the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC), which defines global standards for sustainable tourism based on Agenda 2030.
Green Destinations evaluates destinations across six areas:
• Destination management
• Nature & landscape
• Environment & climate
• Culture & tradition
• Social wellbeing
• Economy & communication
In 2025, Blekinge received a Gold Award for its sustainability efforts — confirming progress, yet also highlighting the next step: achieving full GSTC certification.
Blekinge has also been selected for the international Top 100 Stories 2025 list by Green Destinations.
The recognised story highlights ARK56, a unique collaboration connecting coastal trails and waterways across the Blekinge Archipelago Biosphere Reserve. ARK56 demonstrates how joint efforts from businesses, municipalities, organisations and local communities can create meaningful and lasting value.
