
Sustainable Tourism Working Group (2015-2019)
Chair: Italy
The Sustainable Tourism Working Group was established by the XIII Alpine Conference. Sustainable tourism still represents a key issue for the alpine economy, society and environment and is specifically tackled in the Protocol on Tourism of the Alpine Convention.
At its starting point, the WG on Sustainable Tourism could count on a series of relevant outcomes and documents already produced in the framework of the Alpine Convention: the Fourth Report on the State of the Alps on Sustainable Tourism, the report of the Task Force on Sustainable Tourism set up by the Italian Presidency (2013-2014) and the outcomes of the UNESCO World Heritage Working Group (2006-2014).
During its 2016-2019 mandate, the Sustainable Tourism Working Group focused on two main issues: the promotion of sustainable tourism in the Alps, with a particular focus on initiatives aiming at the reduction of CO2 emissions from the tourism sector, and the identification of strategies for the development of innovative tourism products in Alpine destinations.
Overview of activities, documents and results
- Activity Report 2016-2019
- Brochure “Good… in practice – Alpine destinations for sustainable tourism”, a collection of sustainable Alpine tourist destinations engaged in a path to sustainability and innovation in their tourist offer (2019)
- Report “Sustainable practices in Alpine tourist destinations”, a collection of good practices from the mountain tourist sector aimed to curb emissions (particularly GHGs), increase energy efficiency, and support a wide adoption of sustainable practices in Alpine tourist destinations (2019)
- Report “Directions for innovation of tourist destinations in the Alps. Towards innovative tourist strategies in Alpine sites” (2019)
- Report “Setting up an award for sustainable tourist destinations in the Alps. Feasibility study and international experience” (2019)
- Final report of the Working Group Sustainable Tourism “Alpine Tourism: Valorising heritage – governing sustainable destinations” (2016)