Swisscontact explica – Turismo sostenible

Summary

The mayor of a remote village in Macedonia, concerned about the lack of job opportunities for young people, partners with Swisscontact to develop sustainable tourism. By focusing on adventure tourism like paragliding, mountain biking, and skiing, the village aims to attract more visitors, create jobs, and boost the local economy. With a focus on environmental protection and local culture, the initiative provides long-term benefits, including training for local guides and improved safety measures. As a result, young people are staying in the village, securing a sustainable future while preserving their heritage and environment.

Takeaways

• 😀 The mayor of a remote village in the Macedonian mountains is concerned about the economic future of his town, as young people emigrate to cities due to lack of job opportunities.
• 😀 The mayor realizes that attracting more tourists could help create more jobs and ensure the village's economic growth.
• 😀 The village's tourism industry is still in its early stages, with only a few accommodations and hiking routes around a lake.
• 😀 Swisscontact is helping the mayor develop a sustainable tourism concept, focusing on adventure tourism in the mountainous surroundings, such as paragliding, mountain biking, and skiing.
• 😀 The mayor is cautious about the potential negative impacts of mass tourism on the local culture and environment.
• 😀 Swisscontact organizes the first adventure tourism conference in the region, with attendees including hotel and restaurant representatives, local tour operators, hiking guides, and international buyers.
• 😀 Local tour operators are creating sustainable paragliding packages, which include overnight stays, transportation, training, route planning, weather forecasts, and commemorative videos.
• 😀 These tourism packages are intended to be profitable in the long term, with no immediate profits expected.
• 😀 Investments are being made in training and safety, with mountain guides receiving better training and a central mountain rescue operation being coordinated.
• 😀 The village is gradually moving toward sustainable tourism management, with the goal of becoming a regional hub for paragliding.
• 😀 Thanks to the new tourism development, young people, like Iván (a paragliding instructor), Jana (a restaurant owner), and Mira (a hotel receptionist), now have jobs in the village, helping to preserve the culture and environment.

Q & A

What is the mayor's primary concern for his village?

The mayor is primarily concerned about the economic growth of his village, which is located in the beautiful but remote mountains of Macedonia. The lack of employment opportunities for young people is causing them to migrate to cities.

How does the mayor plan to guarantee economic growth for his village?

The mayor plans to guarantee economic growth by attracting more tourists to the village. He recognizes that tourism can generate more jobs and improve the local economy.

What challenges does the mayor face in developing tourism in his village?

The village's tourism is still in its early stages, with limited offerings such as a few basic accommodations and hiking routes. The mayor is also concerned about the potential negative impact of mass tourism on the local culture and environment.

What is the concept of sustainable tourism that Swisscontact is helping to develop?

Swisscontact is helping the mayor develop a sustainable tourism concept centered around adventure and experiencing the mountainous environment. This includes activities like paragliding, mountain biking, and skiing, with a focus on long-term profitability and minimal environmental impact.

What steps are being taken to ensure the safety and quality of the tourism offerings?

Swisscontact is investing in training and safety measures. Mountain guides are being better trained, and a mountain rescue operation is being coordinated at a central level to ensure the safety of tourists.

How are local businesses involved in the sustainable tourism development?

Local businesses, including hotels, restaurants, and tour operators, are involved in creating sustainable paragliding packages. These packages include overnight stays, transport, training, route planning, weather forecasting, and commemorative videos, with an emphasis on long-term profitability rather than immediate gains.

What is the long-term vision for the village's tourism industry?

The long-term vision for the village is to become a regional hub for paragliding. The mayor hopes that by providing work opportunities in tourism, young people will be able to stay in the village, preserving its culture and environment.

How have local residents benefited from the sustainable tourism initiative?

Local residents, such as Iván (a paragliding instructor), Jana (a restaurant owner), and Mira (a hotel receptionist), are benefiting from the new tourism opportunities. They can now build a sustainable future in the village, and the community as a whole can thrive economically.

What is the mayor’s personal satisfaction with the tourism project?

The mayor is personally enjoying his new hobby, paragliding, which reflects his positive view of the tourism initiative and its impact on the community.

What are the primary concerns regarding mass tourism, and how is the mayor addressing them?

The mayor is concerned about the potential damage mass tourism could cause to the local culture and environment. He is addressing these concerns by working with Swisscontact to develop a sustainable tourism plan that prioritizes minimal environmental impact and cultural preservation.