The Diplomat
“A new look into the future” will be the slogan of the 11th edition of the World Congress on Snow and Mountain Tourism, which will take place on 23 and 24 March in Andorra and will feature more than twenty international speakers who will explore innovative solutions for the development of sustainable snow and mountain tourism.
In this edition, in which more than 300 professionals from the tourism sector are expected to participate, top-level professionals and many institutional representatives will debate, during the two days, on issues such as the recovery of the sector, sustainable development, the acceleration of digitalisation, the demand for more local, authentic and sustainable experiences, the preservation of resources and investment in innovation, among others.
Participants will include Damien Zisswiller, Director of Engineering and Territory Development at Atout France; Leigh Barnes, Corporate Communications Manager at Intrepid Travel; Michele Rumiz, Director of Slow Food Travel; Jeremy Smith, co-founder of Tourism Declares a State of Climate Emergency; and Jordi Grau, chef at Restaurant Ibaya.
Organised by the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), the Government of Andorra and the Canillo Town Council, the Congress is part of the celebrations for the United Nations International Year of Sustainable Mountain Development.
At the press conference, the head of Tourism Market Intelligence and Competitiveness, Sandra Carvao, stressed: “At a time of new challenges, we must seize the opportunity to rethink the contribution of tourism to the development of mountain regions. Together, we must find concrete solutions that bring benefits and opportunities to communities, built around sustainability and innovation to ensure a balance with the fragile mountain environment”.
Sergi Nadal, Director of Tourism of the Government of Andorra, said that “the promotion of digital transformation for the revival of tourism is a key element for the future of the sector. This year, with the aim of aligning ourselves with this objective, the Congress will bring together leading international professionals to share experiences and new models that are being promoted around the world”.
Nadal also highlighted the strategic role of Andorra and pointed out that “for the country and, especially, for Canillo, as the host parish, it is a pleasure to host yet another year’s leading event for the tourism sector and, in particular, for snow and mountain tourism”.
Reactivation and new trends
The 11th World Congress on Snow and Mountain Tourism will be opened by Xavier Espot Zamora, Head of the Government of Andorra, Zurab Pololikashvili, Secretary-General of the UNWTO, and Francesc Camp Torres, Mayor of Canillo.
The Congress includes a high-level round table on the recovery of mountain destinations and looking to the future, which will serve as a framework for aligning actors from all sectors and borders on policies and actions. Mr Fernando Valdés, Secretary of State for Tourism of Spain, Mr Jordi Torres Falcó, Minister of Tourism and Telecommunications of Andorra, Mr Simon Zajc, State Secretary at the Ministry of Economic Development and Technology of Slovenia, and Ms Sofia Zacharaki, Deputy Minister of Tourism of Greece, will discuss the policies needed to advance mountain tourism.
To address the main topics, the meeting will be divided into four sessions discussing digital transformation and tourism of the future; gastronomy and sustainable consumption; innovative experiences in mountain destinations; and the growing consumer demand towards sustainability of destinations. In addition, in the context of the Congress, UNWTO will present, together with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the recently published report on Sustainable Mountain Tourism.
World Congress on Snow and Mountain Tourism
This is an initiative of the seven town councils and the Government of Andorra, together with the UNWTO, with the aim of creating a permanent forum for debate on the development and sustainability of tourism in mountain areas. Held every two years, the first edition was held in 1998 in Escaldes-Engordany and, since then, each edition has been organised in a different parish. Registrations for attending the various talks, round tables and activities have been open for a few weeks now.
