The Symposium Healing Power of the Alps will take place for the third time on 8th and 9th October 2021, in Bad Hofgastein/Salzburger Land Region (Austria). This year‘s Symposium will focus on nature-based and health-promoting tourism as a motor out of the crisis – towards a sustainable and innovative development of the Alpine space. It therefore meets the objectives of the Interreg Project HEALPS 2 and provides the framework for the project's midterm conference. HEALPS2 aims at positioning the Alpine Space as a globally attractive healing region and focuses at improving framework conditions for utilising Alpine natural health resources by developing health tourism products and service chains. ALPARC leads the work package Communication. At the Symposium a transnational stakeholder workshop on agriculture and tourism will highlight best practices and facilitate exchange and networking among international stakeholders to foster Alpine Health Tourism.
With its unique mountain world, diverse climate, outstanding biodiversity and cultural heritage, the Alpine region offers numerous opportunities for healthy living. In contrast to vibrant city life, which is exposed to particulate matter and noise, outdoor recreation in natural environments is increasingly being researched and used for its positive effects on human health and well-being. Various natural resources such as forests, waterfalls, medicinal plants, microbiomes on alpine pastures or thermal waters show measurable health benefits for humans. These health resources lead, among other things, to a strengthened immune system, higher physical fitness, better respiratory performance, and improved mental resilience.
This year it is jointly organized by ITG - Innovation Service for Salzburg, Paracelsus Medical University (PMU), Platform Heilkraft der Alpen (HDA) and ALPARC. For the first time, the symposium spans the entire Alpine region as a joint international initiative of ARGE ALP, BMK, BMLRT, Alpine Convention and EUSALP.
Top-class speakers, including Lola Uña Cárdenas from the World Travel & Tourism Council, Arnulf Hartl from Paracelsus Medical University Salzburg and Franz Fischler, President of the European Forum Alpbach and former EU Agriculture Commissioner, promise exciting debates.
The target groups of the symposium are SMEs from the Alpine regions, tourism businesses, service providers from the trade, regional developers, destination and tourism managers, representatives of tourism associations, representatives from the ARGE-ALP member regions, representatives of the EUSALP and the Alpine Convention, representatives of the BMK and the BMLRT as well as pupils and students with a focus on tourism and regional development. The symposium languages are German, Italian, French, Slovenian and English (simultaneous translation).
Details about the symposium can be found here.
Photo: © SalzburgerLand Tourismus
