Tourism has developed into one of the largest economic sectors worldwide in recent decades. But this expansion also brings with it challenges – especially in times of climate change.
On November 5, 2024, around 150 experts gathered in Zell am See for the 11th Tourism Mobility Day to discuss the opportunities and challenges of sustainable mobility in the tourism sector. The event was organized by the Federal Ministry of Labor and Economics and the Federal Ministry for Climate Protection, which underlined the importance of climate protection and sustainable mobility for the tourism of the future.
Tourism and Climate Change: A Problematic Relationship
Tourism is not only an important economic factor, but also a major emitter of greenhouse gases. Tourist mobility, especially through travel by car, plane or bus, contributes significantly to CO₂ emissions. At the same time, many tourism regions are particularly affected by the effects of climate change. Increasingly frequent extreme weather events such as droughts, floods or storm surges pose major challenges for both nature and the tourist infrastructure.
In her opening speech, Climate Protection Minister Leonore Gewessler stressed the urgency of making tourism more sustainable: "The tourism sector, as one of the largest domestic economic sectors, must face the challenges of climate change. On the one hand, tourism destinations are increasingly affected by the effects of climate change, and on the other hand, tourist mobility is the driver of the overall emissions of every holiday." Gewessler points to the paradigm shift that is necessary to reduce the negative effects of mass travel.
Climate-friendly mobility as a solution
A central theme of the event was the question of how sustainable mobility solutions can shape the tourism of the future. The approach of combining different forms of environmentally friendly transport proved to be forward-looking. These include offers such as the use of public transport, train travel, shuttle services or even bicycle rental. This should not only reduce CO₂ emissions, but also give guests a better experience and at the same time relieve the burden on the tourist infrastructure.
Tourism State Secretary Susanne Kraus-Winkler emphasized that many guests today are consciously looking for climate-friendly mobility solutions: "More and more guests are interested in climate-friendly mobility solutions for their vacation and in some cases even depend on them." At the same time, she points out that there are already numerous successful projects that can serve as models for other regions. These include the cycle paths on the Ybbstal cycle path or the concept of the mountaineering village in the Great Walser Valley, which has received positive feedback with its combination of sustainable transport and a nature-based experience.
best practice examples and innovative concepts
In addition to the numerous discussion rounds and workshops, successful best practice examples were also the focus of the 11th Tourism Mobility Day. Particularly noteworthy is the RESY system, a regional information and monitoring system that enables tourism regions to measure and optimize the impact of their mobility strategies. The "Austrian Ecolabel for Tourism Destinations" was also presented, an important step towards more sustainable tourism.
The “Mobility Coach Pongau” project is another example of successfully implemented mobility solutions. A manual and on-demand tips are used to develop offers specifically geared towards on-demand transport, which benefit both tourists and local communities.
Award for exemplary climate protection initiatives
On the eve of the congress, outstanding institutions, cities and municipalities from all over Austria were honored for their commitment to sustainable mobility. The klimaaktiv mobil partners are examples of the successful transfer of climate protection measures into practice. These pioneering projects show how the industry can actively promote climate protection through innovative mobility solutions. Sometimes it is even small changes, such as converting vehicle fleets to more environmentally friendly models or promoting electromobility, that have a big impact.
Future Perspectives for Sustainable Tourism
The Tourism Mobility Day 2024 made one thing clear: the key to the future of tourism lies in the combination of sustainable mobility and innovative, needs-based concepts. The exchange between the various players from politics, business and tourism is essential in order to develop solutions that meet both the needs of guests and the climatic challenges.
Manuel Resch, CEO of Zell am See-Kaprun Tourismus GmbH, was proud to host the 11th Tourism Mobility Day in his region: "We look forward to working with experts and decision-makers to provide impetus for this important area." For the Zell am See-Kaprun region, this is a further step towards sustainable and future-proof tourism development.
The Journey is the Goal
The results of the 11th Tourism Mobility Day make it clear that the path to the future of tourism is inextricably linked to sustainable mobility. Numerous regions and companies in Austria have already shown how well thought-out mobility solutions can not only promote climate protection, but also increase the quality of tourism.
However, to continue down this path, it is necessary to involve even more actors, further raise public awareness and disseminate existing models throughout Europe. This is the only way to ensure a sustainable and climate-friendly future for tourism.
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