Vorarlberg relies on research: New approach for sustainable tourism

Vorarlberg relies on research: New approach for sustainable tourism

The enthusiasm for tourism in Vorarlberg is growing steadily, especially after the number of overnight stays exceeded the record year last year in the period from May to August. The hotel industry is optimistic about the coming winter season. In order to secure this positive trend in the long term, those responsible for Vorarlberg Tourism in cooperation with a Bavarian university initiate a new experiment, which is referred to as a "real laboratory".

This real laboratory aims to shape the future development of tourism with the direct participation of the population. Professor Dr. Harald Pechlaner, who teaches at the Catholic University of Eichstätt-Ingolstadt, emphasizes that there are a variety of negative examples worldwide, where tourism has led to overcrowding, such as Venice or Dubrovnik. The goal of this experiment, however, is not only to look at economic aspects, but also how tourism influences the living space of the residents.

research for sustainable development

The state tourism director Christian Schützinger emphasizes that Vorarlberg has so far successfully countered mass tourism. Nevertheless, there is a desire to be better equipped in the future for the constantly changing societies and their needs with regard to travel. "We have to understand what moves people and how the travel trends develop to create appropriate offers," explains Schützinger.

The real laboratory pursues a sustainable strategy that takes into account both the requirements of tourists and those of the locals. The previous structures, which focused too much on the guests, are to be questioned and adapted to reality. "The main question is: What does a good life in rural areas look like in the future?"

An accompanying measure to this experiment is the establishment of the “tourism navigator” for Vorarlberg. This platform will provide important data and key figures on trends in tourism and use it effectively. The navigator will aggregate information from various sources, for example the monthly statistics on tourism development and data from the planned Vorarlberg tourism strategy 2030. Thanks to these initiatives as part of the real laboratory and the tourism navigator, Vorarlberg could not only exploit its tourist potential, but also become a model for other regions that have to master similar challenges in the field of tourism. Cooperation between science and practice is seen as the key to a successful future. More information about these developments can be found on vorarlberg.At .