The Alps offer ideal conditions for nature-based tourism.

Ten criteria according to scientific principles were defined in the recent publication by Dominik Siegrist, Susanne Gessner and Lea Ketterer Bonnelame.

The purpose of the 10 scientific criteria laid down by the writers is to help tourism industry professionals and destinations to respond better to demand and improve standards of quality. They include the protection of nature, landscape maintenance or environmental education.

Dominik Siegrist reminds us of the many examples of nature-based tourism that already exist in the Alps, such as the “climbing villages” of Austria, those certified villages which have chosen the path of sustainable tourism in line with tradition. He calls on political leaders to face up to their responsibilities by adapting regulatory conditions. This idea has won support in Germany: the two villages of Ramsau and Hinterstein are due to receive this seal of approval soon. Involvement and motivation on the part of the population have been vital in the procedure of approval, one of the criteria set out by the writers.

Incidentally, the HSR Hochschule für Technik Rapperswill is organising a congress on the subject on 10th June 2015 under the title “Savouring Nature instead of Event Burnout”

Source : CIPRA International, http://www.cipra.org/fr/nouveautes/aller-plus-loin-que-le-tourisme-durable? and additional information : http://www.alpenverein.de/presse/bergsteigerdoerfer-hinterstein-ramsau_aid_15232.html (de), Siegrist, D., Gessner, S., Ketterer Bonnelame, L. (2015). Naturnaher Tourismus. Qualitätsstandards für sanftes Reisen in den Alpen. Bristol-Schriftenreihe 44. Bern. http://www.haupt.ch/index.php?cl=details&anid=9783258079226 (de)