Mountain winter tourism, which has long relied on stable snow conditions, faces growing uncertainty due to climate change: mountains warm faster and more intensely than lowlands areas. Over the last 50 years, the average temperature in the Pyrenees has risen by 30% (1.2°C) more than the global average (0.85°C). In addition, without snowmaking, 53% of Europe’s 2,234 ski resorts would face serious risks to their operations if temperatures increase by 2°C. This figure would rise to 98% if the temperatures were to increase by 4ºC. This uncertainty has sparked discussions on how to adapt and rethink tourism strategies to ensure the long-term sustainability of mountain destinations. At the same time, the growing demand for year-round nature and outdoor experiences presents an opportunity for mountain areas to position themselves as attractive destinations beyond the winter season.

The first session of the MountResilience Community of Practice on Climate Change Adaptation will explore how different regions are beginning to work on the transition to alternative tourism models. The session will look at real-life examples and provide insights from EU projects supporting this transition, the challenges they face, and the lessons learned. It aims to be an opportunity to exchange knowledge and discuss good practices for more sustainable tourism in mountain areas.

Below is the tentative agenda of the event:

10:00 – 10:10 | Introduction to the MountResilience Community of Practice on Climate Change Adaptation

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10:10 – 10:20 | Setting the scene: the challenge of adapting tourism in mountain areas

This short presentation will share the key findings of a European benchmarking study on climate change adaptation in mountainous regions, particularly with regard to winter tourism and water management, by comparing the strategies of six European countries.

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10:20 – 12:10 | Inspiring experiences to drive the transition

This session will showcase EU-funded projects that are helping mountain regions respond to the challenges of climate change by exploring alternative approaches to tourism. Representatives from PITON, TranStat, BeyondSnow, and MountResilience will share insights on how they are collaborating with local communities, understanding local dynamics and applying methodologies to explore future scenarios, identify measures to diversify tourism offerings throughout the year and develop tools to help destinations assess their climate resilience. A moderated Q&A session, led by UNIMONT, will offer participants the opportunity to engage directly with the speakers and reflect on the practical applications of these initiatives.

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12:10 – 12:40 | Workshop: Rethinking winter tourism in your region

This interactive session will invite participants to reflect on the situation in their own regions. The discussion will focus on reflecting on the main challenges winter tourism is facing and the potential for replicating the initiatives presented, as well as identifying other good practices in their regions and exploring the obstacles that are hindering the implementation of these actions.

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12:40 – 12:45 | Closing remarks