Vitalpin Unites Nature Conservation And Development Interests For The Future Viability Of Alpine Tourism

At a joint event organized by Vitalpin and the Bolzano Chamber of Commerce, discussions were held on how winter tourism in times of climate change can be made as resource-efficient as possible without jeopardizing the prosperity that has been built up over the past decades. It was agreed that this can only succeed if all stakeholders work together and with consideration for the economic, ecological and social compatibility of winter tourism.

Tourism experts from South Tyrol and Austria discussed the topic "Winter tourism between people, nature and economy" in Bolzano. The focus was on the tension between winter tourism and climate change. Here it is important to act as resource-conserving as possible, taking into account that tourism has guaranteed the preservation of the rural area to this day.

"In addition to the economic side, social compatibility must also be guaranteed"

Michl Ebner, President of the Bolzano Chamber of Commerce called on the local population not to be forgotten in this debate: "Winter tourism is an important part of the economy in the Alpine region and, through direct and indirect effects, a significant motor for our prosperity. In addition to the economic side, it is important to guarantee the social acceptability of winter tourism and thus the quality of life of the population living here.”

“Ski tourism has become a challenging business”

Harald Pechlaner, Head of Eurac Research's Center for Advanced Studies and Professor of Tourism at the Catholic University of Eichstätt-Ingolstadt, explained: “In the developed European core markets, ski tourism has become a challenging business. Stagnation or a decline in users, ecological issues, price sensitivity and alternative offers are intensifying competition and making a reorientation necessary.”

The event also highlighted current challenges such as traffic, staff shortages and rising resource prices caused by social and climate change.

Theresa Haid, Managing Director of Vitalpin, advocates an objective, public discussion that is based on solid facts and allows for a holistic view: "We will not separate what has always been connected: people, the economy as their basis of life and the Alps as his habitat. We are convinced that there are responsible paths between conservation and development interests.”

The event was rounded off by a panel discussion with Antonia Egger (countrywoman), Theresa Haid (Vitalpin), Madeleine Rohrer (umbrella organization for nature and environmental protection), Helmut Sartori (association of cable car companies in South Tyrol) and Michael Oberhofer (Brandnamic).

Vitalpin is a non-profit, non-profit, non-political and international organization with members throughout the German-speaking Alps. The umbrella organization unites a million people and companies in the Alps who live from and with tourism and are dependent on functioning tourism. Vitalpin builds bridges to a future in which people, business and nature are in balance. Vitalpin represents interests, creates clarity on controversial issues and raises awareness of the importance of tourism in the Alps.