Title – Name
EGTC Alpine Pearls
Scope / Sector / Industry
Accessible rural tourism
Country / Region
Germany, Austria, Italy, Slovenia
Why is it good practice?
The European Group of Territorial Cooperation Alpine Pearls is a good networking practice as it unites and promotes destinations that are considered capable of supporting the sustainable mobility of visitors within them. The EGTC, through targeted actions, contributes to the formation of destinations for visitors that guarantee easy and comfortable movement without the use of a private car through the promotion of multiple options of means and sustainable mobility services
How is it applied?
Alpine Pearls is an initiative of 19 Alpine tourist communities that aims to promote sustainable, ecological mobility and offer a climate-friendly holiday experience for visitors through attractive, practical, comfortable and simple transportation. Alpine Pearls’ mission is to protect the Alpine ecosystem from the negative impacts of tourism and to preserve its natural beauty by raising awareness of an authentic, conscious travel experience.
The Alpine Pearls association was founded in 2006 by 17 member destinations, the “Pearls of the Alps”, which were the result of the European projects “Alps Mobility” and “Alps Mobility II”, an initiative of the Austrian Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Environment and Water Management. In 2022, the association was transformed into a European Grouping of Territorial Cooperation to facilitate cross-border cooperation and support for its members, while over the years, new members have been added, supporting ecotourism, climate protection and sustainable holidays. Today, the EGTC Alpine Pearls is a network of destinations aimed at promoting sustainable tourism in the Alps (Germany, Austria, Italy and Slovenia).
Eco-mobility is a concept that aims to make transport more sustainable and environmentally friendly. It involves rethinking the way we travel and finding alternatives that use less energy and reduce the impact on the environment, compared to traditional transport methods. In this context, visitors, instead of relying on private cars, choose public transport, bicycles (electric and non-electric) and innovative car-sharing models during their holidays. These options contribute to reducing CO2 emissions, combating air pollution and reducing traffic in general.
The Alpine Pearls initiative, through its official website, highlights the above eco-friendly travel options offered by each member destination separately. The destinations per country that have been integrated into the network so far are: Germany: 1, Austria: 3, Slovenia: 2, Italy: 12. Within the destinations, visitors are offered numerous transport services, such as trains, hiking and ski buses, taxi services, electric cars, bicycles and e-bikes in order to make it easy to plan an eco-friendly trip. In addition, instructions are given for the means of travel to and from the destination, such as air connections, trains and buses. Information is also provided that improves and facilitates the travel experience. Examples include luggage services, electric charging stations, electric bike rental, information on hiking routes, suggestions for activities and points of interest, suggestions for summer and winter.
In terms of transportation, each destination in the EGTC has prepared a customized, climate-friendly mobility model that includes:
- low-cost connections and top accessibility to public transport,
- transfers from the train station to the hotel and
- areas characterized by traffic calm
In the context of facilitating and attracting tourists, Alpine Pearls destinations allow their guests to purchase “Guest & Mobility Cards”, which allow free access to local public transport. These cards include benefits such as free use of all means of transport in the destination area, buses for travel to hiking areas, ski resorts, etc., discounts on taxi use, discounts on activities (e.g. rafting, cycling, hiking) and more. These cards are purchased at points such as the destination’s info points and member accommodations.
Another initiative of the EGTC is the establishment of “Alpine Pearls Hosts”, which brings together accommodation providers who share the group’s goals for eco-friendly holidays in harmony with people and nature. Hotels, apartments, private guesthouses, B&Bs or campsites are members of the EGTC.
Among other actions, the EGTC Alpine Pearls participates in projects related to environmentally friendly mobility and the gentle improvement of access to areas and the promotion of local culture and natural heritage. It also works closely with international partners to develop innovative solutions, reduce the environmental footprint of tourism and at the same time support the economic development of each region. It also emphasizes the climate resilience of small snow tourist destinations and communities at medium altitudes, so that they can maintain their attractiveness for residents and tourists.
Finally, several times a year, it organizes webinars on a wide range of topics related to sustainability and tourism in the Alps at the Alpine Pearls Academy for all its members.
To become a member of the EGTC, some basic membership criteria must be met that reflect the shared priorities of the group. These criteria ensure that only destinations that meet high standards of sustainable tourism become part of the network. These criteria serve as a guideline for the selection of new members and ensure the quality and sustainability of the Alpine Pearls community. In addition, to help members achieve this goal, a roadmap is provided that sets out specific measures for the next five years. The membership criteria and the roadmap allow the EGTC to ensure the continuity and development of the Alpine Pearls.
The membership criteria for Alpine Pearls are summarized as follows:
- The existence of environmentally friendly mobility options, such as well-developed public transport, bicycle infrastructure and walkability, is one of the most important admission criteria. Member regions should work actively to promote these sustainable modes of transport and enable visitors to enjoy a comfortable, environmentally friendly journey.
- Resource efficiency and the use of renewable energy sources. Members undertake to use water, energy and other resources sustainably and to rely on renewable energy sources to reduce their environmental impact and ecological footprint.
- The high quality of accommodation and services offered by each Member Municipality. Environmentally certified accommodation, the use of local products and sustainable resource management allow visitors to experience authentic, sustainable travel and learn about local culture and traditions.
- Active nature protection and continuous environmental education. Members must be actively committed to the protection of the natural environment and promote the environmental education of their visitors. They focus on ecotourism and sustainable activities that can be implemented and used in a way that protects the environment.
The next step is to create a core Pearl team (destination team) and select a leader who takes care of the operational implementation of activities such as the destination action plan, partnerships, events or public relations. At the same time, an assessment is carried out to determine whether a Pearl already meets the core criteria or has plans to meet them. Once the above foundations are in place, planning begins on how to achieve the defined target criteria as summarized below:
- Environmentally friendly mobility
- Strengthening the brand identity
- Preserving and improving the quality of the environment
- Protecting and caring for the natural environment
- Developing and safeguarding an atmosphere of well-being
- Responsible and closed-loop regional economy
Where is it applied?
The EGTC Alpine Pearls directly addresses visitors who wish to experience Alpine destinations that offer eco-friendly means of transport and other eco-tourism options. Indirectly it addresses destinations that want to join the network and develop eco-friendly transport options.
When did it applied?
The EGTC Alpine Pearls was established in 2022.
Results
The Alpine Pearls initiative was considered by the European SMARTA-NET project as a good practice for sustainable mobility management applied in rural areas.
Other Information
The official website of Alpine Pearls is: https://www.alpine-pearls.com/en
