Applied sustainability in Swiss tourism destinations

Die Rhätische Bahn in der Winterlandschaft der Ferienregion Engadin Scuol Zernez – Schloss Tarasp im Hintergrund – Dominik Täuber
Back to Sustainability
Tourism and sustainability – a contradiction? With a sustainable orientation, in harmony with the local population and the needs of the guests, with well-considered investments and with consideration for the ecological balance, tourism can prosper in the long term.
In order to be able to offer support to destinations for such an orientation, the TESSVM, together with various partners, has developed assistance for sustainable development within the framework of the project «Applied sustainability in Swiss tourism destinations».

Project idea

In order for Swiss tourism destinations to know how to develop sustainably, the project «Applied sustainability in Swiss tourism destinations NSTD» aims to create assistance for destination management organisations (DMOs).

Project goals

  • A handbook «Sustainability in Swiss Tourism Destinations» with interesting facts about sustainability in tourism, practical indicators, recommendations for action and practical examples of implementation is available. The model for this is the practical guide «Nachhaltigkeit im Deutschlandtourismus» (Sustainability in German Tourism). Learn more about this in the English summary.
  • Further training for DMO staff and interested parties on the implementation of sustainability is offered.
  • The feasibility of a rating or award for sustainable tourism destinations has been clarified.
  • The need for competence centres for «sustainability in tourism» has been assessed and a strategy for their establishment and operation has been elaborated.

Impact goals

  • Swiss tourism destinations have set themselves the goal of sustainable development.
  • They have a selection of support tools at their disposal, which they make active use of.
  • The sustainable orientation of tourism destinations contributes to the long-term preservation of high-quality jobs throughout Switzerland, to increasing the quality of life of the host population and to preserving natural and cultural heritage. By creating jobs, migration to peripheral regions is slowed down.

Results

Handbuch Nachhaltigkeit in Schweizer Tourismusdestinationen – TESSVM und ZHAW
Manual

The handbook «Sustainability in Swiss Tourism Destinations» offers a wealth of implementation aids and recommendations for sustainable development. Available in German and French.

Illustration zum Praxiskurs Nachhaltigkeit in Schweizer Tourismusdestinationen – langfristige und nachhaltige Entwicklung
Practical course

The practical course with coaching supports destinations that want to shape their future sustainably.

Illustration zum Handbuch Nachhaltigkeit in Schweizer Tourismusdestinationen – langfristige und nachhaltige Entwicklung – Fragen und Planung
Further information

You can find out more about the manual or the practical course on the page sustainability4destinations.ch.

Logo der Zürcher Hochschule für Angewandte Wissenschaften (zhaw)

Co-project management with the ZHAW

TESSVM co-led the national project with the Tourism and Sustainable Development Research Group of the ZHAW Zurich University of Applied Sciences.

More about the research group