West Coast Futures

Could a new strategic development plan, spatially support the creation of the necessary political and planning frameworks, for how to work in the future, and over time with changing coastal conditions?

In 2018, a tourist development plan for the West Coast of Denmark was issued. The development plan is a collaboration between the 11 west coast municipalities, that have joint forces, to make the West Coast one of Northern Europe’s most attractive places to visit - a collected destination, with nature as the greatest attraction. The development plan is seen as the starting point for a new approach to the development of West Coast tourism, with a goal to reach growth, in 2025.  

Tourism on the West Coast is the lifeline for many peripheral cities Massive investments in the plans 18 chosen destinations, will be made in the coming years - to ensure continuous life, and increased tourism on the West Coast. 

Climate change and related coastal challenges, are not mentioned in the reports and plans for the future West Coast area - even though, the West Coast already has major challenges with erosion, and damages in cases of extreme weather events. This will most likely only worsen in the future, putting coastal zones and tourism based economies at risk.

The report has a timeframe for the coming 5 years - but with consideration of the massive investment frame the report facilitates, we ask: What if, tourism development could be combined with investments in climate adaptation? Could the development plan grant an opportunity for public collaborations beyond the tourism perspective, and create a new tradition, where problems and solutions are understood in a broader perspective? For example in a climate adaptation process.

Denmark is one of the five countries in the EU that will face the highest damage costs at sea level increases - relative to the gross domestic product. In many ways, the West Coast is a striking example of how critical it will be to think of new strategies, which incorporates the complexities we are facing in the future.