ClimAlpTour, a participatory process to convert crisis in opportunity

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The Alpine region is extremely vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. The Alpine tourism has to be rethought in light of the upcoming challenges: public institutions and locals are faced with a new concept of tourism, that goes beyond the traditional proposals. The ClimAlpTour project suggests “how” to convert crisis in opportunity. 

The project “ClimAlpTour – Climate Change and its impact on tourism in the Alpine Space” has involved the entire Alpine Arch, from Slovenia to France, and is funded within the Alpine Space Programme2007-2013.
For the final conference of the project (6–7 October 2011) a field trip to Auronzo di Cadore (BL, Italy), that is one of the 24 case studies addressed by the project, was organized. 

CMCC’s researchers S. Balbi, L. Bonzanigo, V. Giannini, with the guide of Prof. C. Giupponi, coordinated the research on three case studies: one in Veneto (Auronzo di Cadore) and two in the Val D’Aosta Region (Valgrisenche and Monte Rosa Ski-Area). They put the e-tool (a DSS, Decision Support System) at the disposal of the project. This system is able to perform multi-criteria analysis in order to determine the most effective and sustainable adaptation strategies. 

The ClimAlpTour project involved, through a participatory process, all local actors interested in the promotion of tourism (public administration, tour operators, tourists and locals), with the aim of enhancing their awareness on this theme whilst taking advantage of local knowledge. 

CMCC’s researchers were also facilitators in workshops and seminars where stakeholders contributed to the analysis and conceptualization of the problem; with the support of the ClimAlpTour e-tool they could order the various options under examination and thus facilitate the decision makers’ final choice. 

The project results suggest Auronzo’ s area to focus on resort for wellness and for family tourism, with more non-snow related infrastructures: spas, sport centers, shopping, gastronomy. Participation has been intensive and constructive. Local actors participated actively in the exercise proposed and demonstrated awareness of both the current situation and potential risks related to impacts of climate change. In addition they showed great creativity in identifying tailored strategies and willingness to discuss them.

The video summarizes the results of the Val D’Aosta’s case studies:

 

 

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