As Alpine tourism becomes increasingly a mass phenomenon, protected areas can serve as model actors for sustainable regional development. At the same time, their mission remains first and foremost the conservation of Alpine biodiversity, meaning tourist offers in these areas must be geared accordingly.
These were the starting hypotheses of the WELCOME project, carried out by ALPARC with the financial support of the German Ministry for the Environment, Climate Action, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMUKN). On March 27th–28th, Nationalpark Berchtesgaden hosted the project’s final event, which brought together managers of Alpine protected areas and other stakeholders involved in promoting sustainable, biodiversity-compliant tourism.
During the meeting, participants showcased good practices implemented in their parks as regards, on the one hand, monitoring, assessment, and management of visitor impacts and, on the other hand, innovative offers and approaches aimed at reducing them. These topics were further explored in a dedicated workshop. Exchanges among experts highlighted both the challenges of introducing innovation in such sensitive environments, but also the great potential arising from the unique heritage of these territories and the collaboration with local stakeholders. Together, they also developed a scenario for the future of tourism in Alpine protected areas by 2040, envisaging an ideal situation and identifying both obstacles to overcome and opportunities to seize to achieve it.
The event concluded with a guided excursion through the Klausbach Valley. The staff of Nationalpark Berchtesgaden presented their actions in the area, including visitor flow management through a redesigned park entrance, visitor monitoring using counters and surveys, and new educational initiatives focused on the bearded vulture and the natural processes of carcass decomposition.
Many thanks to all participants for their contributions and to Nationalpark Berchtesgaden for supporting the organisation of the event!
Insights and outcomes from the event have been included in the WELCOME Project Final Report.
For more information about the project: WELCOME project
The full event program is available here: WELCOME Closing Event
The project is co-funded by the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection (BMUV).
© photo: Pietro Merzi / ALPARC