RESILIENT TOURISM – STRENGTHENING REGIONS & DESTINATIONS!

From 13:00 To 18:30

FH Kufstein Tirol, FEstivities Hall

Wed 21 Oct

We cordially invite you to the closing conference of the INTERREG-project Resilient Tourism. Join us as experts from academia and the field explore the importance of resilience for tourism destinations and offer concrete ideas for the future. Whether the topic is climate adaptation or marketing, the common theme of our presentations is a call for cooperation and collaboration at the destination level.

Participation is free of charge thanks to funding from INTERREG Bavaria-Austria.

Resilience at the intersection of the Natural Environment, Technology, and society

Given that the 1,5°C target has not been met, sustainability is becoming increasingly challenging, and the resilience of destinations is gaining in importance, as the natural environment is the essential foundation of tourism in the Alpine region. At the same time, technological developments in mobility and energy pose major infrastructural challenges. Furthermore, the question of how tourism can continue to gain societal acceptance is becoming increasingly pressing. Prof. Gottfried Tappeiner explores the three central dimensions of resilience in tourism.

Climate change - is tourism a victim or an agent of change?

Climate change poses a twofold challenge for tourism: destinations must adapt to changing environmental conditions while also doing their part to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. In his presentation, Robert Steiger examines what this means for resilience, market strategies, and winter sports tourism in particular - and asks whether tourism can evolve from being a victim to becoming an active "agent of change".

RESILIENce and transformation in tourism - conflict or a shared strategy?

Resilience in tourism is regarded as the key factor for successful tourism development: stable regional value creation, a stable and diverse range of offerings, and a commitment to environmental and social responsibility in the spirit of sustainability characterize this perspective. But does this model still hold true when global warming, sociodemographic change in rural areas, or local social acceptance clearly call for changes in tourism?

Today many destinations face the challenge of reinventing themselves. In addition to destination management, visitors, and businesses, the local population also plays a special role in this context, as the transformation significantly affects the region’s quality of life and future prospects. This calls for a fresh perspective on resilience and successful tourism planning.

The new superpower of travel - how regenerative tourism strengthens visitors and regions

In times of geopolitical, economic, and climate upheaval, resilience is becoming a core value - for destinations as well as for guests and locals. Andreas Reiter shows what a future-proof form of tourism can look like: climate-adaptive, impact-oriented, and regenerative – going beyond traditional sustainability.

Resilience is not solely the responsibility of tourism stakeholders. In times of uncertainty, guests, too, are increasingly seeking out travel experiences and offerings that empower them, provide direction, and help them regain balance with themselves, with others, and with the environment. Resilient tourism emerges from sustainable networks of relationships, through curated experiences, it connects guests, hosts, locals, and the region.

DMO 5.0 – From destination responsibility to navigating the future

DMO 4.0 focused on destination stewardship: not as a claim that DMOs should manage “everything” in the local area, but as an active networking role that mediates a balance between the interests of visitors, businesses, employees, residents, policymakers, and government officials, and strengthens tourism’s contribution to quality of life and the common good. Because trends and countertrends operate simultaneously, crises become the new normal, AI is changing the rules of the game, and resources are becoming scarcer, a new mindset is needed: we must navigate the future together. DMO 5.0 is therefore not an additional layer of responsibilities, but rather a navigational function that organizes future viability, redefines priorities, and unlocks efficiency gains for people- and relationship-oriented tasks such as strategy, narrative, brand management, network management, and stakeholder communication. Future-proof business models, a regenerative and resonant tourism narrative, and AI-driven transformation are central building blocks of resilience for destinations and businesses.

The moderated panel discussion provides a forum for the experts to exchange ideas. It will explore interesting topics from a variety of perspectives. Contribute to the debate by asking questions from the audience!