Case Studies - Organised activities and eventsTourist offices working together with local companies can arrange and promote a variety of activities and events that offer alternatives to downhill skiing, that showcase the natural environment and local culture and create a range of employment options. All widen the appeal of a destination to a larger range of visitors and enable them to engage and connect with the destination. This makes for a more sustainable tourism offering...
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Nature Interpretation Snowshoe HikesIn Correncen in the Vercors, they offer a range of guided snowshoe walks that with qualified mountain leaders who interpret natural surroundings bringing the mountains to life. The walks include “Discovering nature” and “Animals in Winter” and they teach how to identify the footprints in the snow, telling the difference between ibex, chamois and bouquetin, finding evidence of wild boar and more. They take you closer to the mountain and give you fun skills to use on further trips in the forest.
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OrienteeringThere are around 12 different fixed orienteering courses in Correncen and Villard le Lans in the Vercors in France that enable both beginners and experienced orienteers to explore the villages and mountains using a map provided by the tourist office. A course linking several checkpoints (controls) is marked on the map and you navigate your way to each one. Once there you mark the map using the punch at the checkpoint (as shown in the photo). Some courses can be completed on foot and others are better with snowshoes. They show a different side to a resort and interpretation panels around the village teach more about the heritage of the village. A great option for ski resorts wanting to offer more for non-skiers and another low-impact alternative to skiing.
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Winter WalkingThroughout the Bregenzerwald and Kleinwalsertal in Austria, they place as much priority on winter walking as skiing with a set of highly visible pink walking trail signs – with the matching pink trails on a detailed walking map, together with information about walking times and opening times for restaurants and mountain huts on the path. Often walkers can be treated like second class citizens in ski resorts – where they are treated well – like in the this example – a resort can really attract mixed parties or non-skiing groups.
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