Tourism

Tourism is one of the main sources of income in the Alps, with some 40% of Alpine municipalities displaying significant tourism activity. The main assets of the Alps are the beautiful landscapes and the diverse natural and cultural heritage. To protect this heritage, it is necessary to adopt a balanced approach based on sustainable tourism (Article 2, 2i of the Framework Convention). Experiencing nature and respecting the environment is the main focus here, with the use of alternative mobility solutions being encouraged. Moreover, new business models for year-round tourism are needed.

Protocols and Declarations

• Tourism Protocol

Thematic Working Bodies

• Transport Working Group
• Sustainable Tourism Working Group (2015-2019)
• UNESCO World Heritage Working Group (2006-2014)

Selected documents and publications

• Handbook “Measuring the tourism sustainability of mountain tourism destinations in the Alps” and monitoring table (2021)
• 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 “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)
• 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)
• Publication of the Compliance Committee: Guidelines for the interpretation of Art. 6(3) of the Tourism Protocol (2017)
• Final report of the Working Group Sustainable Tourism “Alpine Tourism: Valorising heritage – governing sustainable destinations” (2016)
• 4^th Report on the State of the Alps: Sustainable tourism in the Alps (2013)

Projects

• LiveAlpsNature (Alpine Space Programme) - Promoting biodiversity protection through innovative and health orientated nature-based activities in Alpine Protected Areas based on biodiversity responsible visitor management and digital outreach (2024-2027) 
• BeyondSnow (Alpine Space Programme) - Enhancing the Resilience of Alpine Space Snow Tourism Destinations and Communities to Climate Change (2022-2025)
• Cycle of conferences on sustainable tourism
  • Healing Power of the Alps (2021)
  • Outdoor tourism with a long-distance perspective: Between climate change, sustainability demands and crisis management (2020)
  • Alpine landscape meets culture, cultural heritage and landscape for a new Alpine tourism (2020)
• Mountaineering Villages
• ClimaHost - contest for innovative solutions for climate protection and energy efficiency in hotel management and hospitality in the Alpine area (2018) 
• Alpen-Forum-Innsbruck on climate change and tourism (2015) - in German