Alpine pearls - Alpine Pearls

Villnößtal and Geisler peaks

Alpine pearls - Pearl of the Alps - this is the name of a cooperation between tourism communities from six Alpine countries. Its aim is to make tourism as sustainable as possible so that the ecologically sensitive Alpine region is still attractive for future generations.

background

The organization of the Alpine pearls was founded in 2006. This was preceded by the EU project Alps Mobility and his successor Alps Mobility II. Initially there were 17 Alpine Pearls, by 2016 their number had grown to 25. Some members of the first hour like Morzine-Avoriaz, Les Gets and Villard de Lans but have left the community again. Alpine Pearls now has 23 members in 5 Alpine countries.

aims

Main goal of Alpine pearls is the promotion of sustainable tourism. This is to be achieved through the promotion of gentle mobility, through environmentally friendly leisure activities, this requires the creation of the necessary infrastructure. However, ecological standards must be adhered to.

Mobility guarantee is an essential goal of the Alpine Pearls:

  • The Soft mobility starts with the arrival. Since the places are easily accessible by train or long-distance bus, you can leave your own car at home.
  • When you arrive at your holiday destination, the transfer to your accommodation is as environmentally friendly as possible, either by using the appropriate public transport or by means of a pick-up and delivery service by the host. The same applies to the return journey.
  • There are attractive offers for public transport at the holiday destination, such as free use of the buses Guest cards or Mobility cards. There are also rental stations for bicycles, e-bikes and possibly also cable cars. This means that all attractive destinations such as the starting points of hiking trails or cross-country trails are easily accessible.
  • The Alpine Pearls tourist information centers are also helpful in planning your vacation.

Environmentally friendly leisure activities belong to sustainable tourism. The possibilities in the natural environment of the Alpine pearls are diverse. Action and fun shouldn't be neglected.

  • Activities in winter: Alpine skiing, snowboarding, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, tobogganing, ice skating, horse-drawn sleighs, ...
  • Summer activities: Hiking, mountain biking, climbing, visiting museums, ...

Vacation spots: The member locations of the Alpine pearls must meet the requirements of soft tourism. This includes careful use of natural resources and the avoidance of environmental pollution from traffic. Structural measures must be adapted to the region.

Restaurants and accommodation: The partner companies of Alpine pearls value gentle tourism. The houses are kept in a style typical of the country, and emphasis is placed on regional products in the kitchen.

implementation

So that a place member in the chain of Alpine pearls 50 criteria must be met, and this should also apply in the following years. Compliance with these criteria should primarily take place through self-assessment; spot checks by external inspectors are planned. A major point of criticism is that some of the criteria only follow the legal minimum standards. Furthermore, membership in the Alpine pearls neither for the locations nor for the host companies free of charge, so that quite a few communities prefer to use their budget for their own advertising. And that you can not only earn money with skiing in the alpine holiday resorts, you now also know in the farthest side valley.

Members

Map of Alpine Pearls

Germany

  • 1 Bad Reichenhall
  • 2 Berchtesgaden

Italy

Austria

  • 1 Neukirchen am Großvenediger
  • 2 Werfenweng
  • 3 Hinterstoder
  • 4 Mallnitz
  • 5 Weissensee

Switzerland

  • 1 Arosa
  • 2 Interlaken
  • 3 Disentis / Mustér
  • 4 Les Diablerets

Slovenia

  • 1 Bled
  • 2 Bohinj

Web links

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