23-25 march 2022

11th World Congress on Snow and Mountain Tourism

Andorra la Vella, Andorra

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Mountainlikers invites you to watch videos and photos from the 2022 event

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If your schedule does not allow you to travel to Andorra, we invite you not to miss the interventions that will take place at the Congress Centre of Andorra la Vella on 23 and 24 March. We look forward to seeing you in the digital world! Are you going to connect?

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The World Congress on Snow and Mountain Tourism is an initiative of Andorra’s 7 Communes, the Government of Andorra, and the World Tourism Organization, aimed at setting up a permanent discussion forum on the development and sustainability of tourism in mountain areas. It is held every two years and is organised by each Commune in rotation.

Since its inception in 1998, the Congress has focused on the most innovative topics of the time, deriving from the analysis of touristic and social trends, the economic situation, and the development of communication and analysis tools.

For this reason, and supported by the increase in participants at each edition, the World Congress on Snow and Mountain Tourism in Andorra has become an international benchmark for the exchange of knowledge regarding trends, tools, and opportunities for tourism development in mountain areas.

11th World Congress on Snow and Mountain Tourism

Greetings from the Minister

Dear participants,

On 10 March 2020 we had to postpone the Snow and Mountain Tourism World Congress due to the health emergency caused by the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. I am pleased to announce that the organisation of this Congress has been reactivated thanks to the involvement of the seven municipalities (Comuns) and the Government of Andorra, and the World Tourism Organisation (WTO). Canillo will be the host parish for this eleventh edition.

You all know that tourism has been one of the sectors most affected by the pandemic and that the consequences for our economy have had a huge impact on the commercial fabric and jobs, although it is true that the resilience of our sector has helped us to be innovative, to rethink everything we had consolidated with effort and time, and to listen to the demands of tourists and take care of them, knowing that health, protocols to prevent the spread of COVID-19, screening and vaccination are some of the key elements that allow us to look to the future with some optimism.

11th World Congress on Snow and Mountain Tourism

Message from the Secretary-General of the UNWTO

Tourism has been one of the sectors worst affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The sudden and unprecedented fall in international arrivals has had a profound impact at many levels, damaging economies, livelihoods, public services and opportunities all around the world.

It is also irrefutable that, over recent decades, tourism has been one of the fastest growing socio-economic sectors. It has become increasingly recognized as a vital contributor to job and wealth creation, to environmental protection and to poverty alleviation. All this makes tourism a powerful force for the advancement of the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda and its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

+ 8
Themes
+ 12
Speakers
3
Days
300
Assistants

Program

March 23

March 24

March 25

Sponsors

ORGANIZERS

SPONSORS

Technology Partner

Plata sponsor

COLLABORATORS

Some pictures

2022 EDITION

More Info

  • Technical Secretariat
  • (+376) 827 682
  • mailto:info@mountainlikers.com
March 23
  • 08:00 – 10.00

Arrival and registration of participants

March 23
  • 10:00 – 10:30
  • Sra. Gemma Rial

Opening Ceremony

Hon. Mr. Francesc Camp Torres, Mayor of Canillo
Mr. Zurab Pololikashvili, Secretary-General, UNWTO
H.E. Mr. Jordi Torres Falcó, Minister of Tourism and Telecommunications of Andorra
Master of Ceremony: Mrs. Gemma Rial, Journalist and Presenter of RTVA (Ràdio i Televisió d’Andorra)

March 23
  • 10:30 – 11:00
  • Sr. Damien Zisswiller

Keynote on innovation and sustainability

Damien Zisswiller, Directorate of Engineering and Development of Territories, Atout France

March 23
  • 11:00 – 13:00
  • Sra. Sandra Carvao

High Level Panel on "Mountain destinations: between recovery and looking to the future"

Mountain tourist destinations have quickly adapted to the new postcovid reality. What strategies have public and private entities implemented to deal with it? And what vision do they have for the future? Moderation and introduction: Sandra Carvao, Chief of Tourism Market Intelligence and Competitiveness, UNWTO
Speakers:
H.E. Mr. Jordi Torres Falcó, Minister of Tourism and Telecommunications of Andorra
H.E. Mr. Simon Zajc, Secretary of State, Ministry of Economic Development and Technology of Slovenia
H.E. Mr. Fernando Valdés, Secretary of State for Tourism of Spain
H.E. Mrs. Sofia Zacharaki, Viceminister of Tourism of Greece

March 23
  • 13:00 – 15:00

Free time for lunch

March 23
  • 15:00 – 15:30
  • Sr. Gerard Calzada

Understanding mountain Tourism through data

Smartphones have become the most widely used device for any online operation. The use of mobiles allows an important source at data level. How do we take advantage of this information and what can we offer to the users? The effectiveness of mobile data.
Gerardo Calzada, Data & AI Manager, Andorra Telecom

March 23
  • 15.30– 17:00
  • Sra. Natalia Bayona

SESSION 1 – Digital transformation and the tourism of the future

Since the pandemic, digitalization - "big data", "virtual reality" or "artificial intelligence" - has been strengthened, generating solutions to accelerate economic recovery. New tourism applications have been rapidly created helping companies adjust their business models, and institutions reorganize their tourism destination using data and AI. This session will showcase tourism innovative technological solutions that contribute to sustainable development.
Moderator: Natalia Bayona, Director of Innovation, Education and Investments, UNWTO
Speakers:
Christian Lunger, CEO, Motasdesign (Austria)
Santiago Camps, CEO, Mabrian Technologies (Spain)
Helena González Ung, Special Projects & Digital Art Manager, Necsum Trison (Spain)
Marc Galabert Macià, Secretary of State for Economic Diversification and Innovation, Government of Andorra
Marc Bigas Bachs, Co-founder of Skitude (Norway)
16:30 - 17:00 P/R

March 23
  • 17:00-17:20
  • Sra. Sandra Carvao & Sra. Rosalaura Romeo

UNWTO / FAO Report on Sustainable Mountain Tourism – Key Outcomes

Sandra Carvao, Chief of Tourism Market Intelligence and Competitiveness, UNWTO
Rosalaura Romeo, Project Coordinator, Mountain Partnership Secretariat, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)

March 24
  • 09:30 – 11:00
  • Sr. David Mora

SESSION 2 – Gastronomy and sustainable consumption

Gastronomy tourism is a growing trend that allows the consolidation of typical food, identity and culture of the destination. This session will also give examples of sustainable consumption initiatives that serve as a tool for the local population to benefit from tourism development, especially in rural areas.
Moderator: David Mora, Coordinator of the Master’s Degree in Food Tourism, Basque Culinary Center (BCC)
Speakers:
Michele Rumiz, Director of the programme Slow Food Travel (Italy)
Chef Jordi Grau, Restaurant Ibaya, Sport Hotel Hermitage (Andorra)
Vee Bougani, CEO, Sustainable Food Movement (Greece)
Philippe Berto, Deputy CEO of CRTL Occitanie, France
10:30 - 11:00 P/R

March 24
  • 11:15 – 13:00
  • Sra. Céline Fortin

SESSION 3: Innovative experiences

Consumers habits have been transformed - their health and wellbeing, their contact with nature and their communities come first. Destinations and tourist service companies have adapted rapidly to this new reality. At the same time, an important factor on their holidays is discovering and experimenting. Experience tourism together with a healthy environment is a key element for the consumer.
Moderator: Céline Fortin, Regional Manager, Europe & Oceania, Adventure Travel Trade Association (ATTA)
Speakers:
Michel Durrieu, CEO, Huttopia (France)
Betim Budzaku, CEO, Andorra Turisme
Pierre-François Adam, Innovation-Foresight and Entrepreneurship Manager Cluster Montagne (France)
12:30 - 13:00 P/R

March 24
  • 13:00 – 15:30

Free time for lunch

March 24
  • 15:30 – 17:00
  • Sra. Alessandra Priante

SESSION 4: Consumers call for responsible tourism destinations

The globally growing environmental awareness also changes development patterns in tourism: energy efficiency, environmental friendly construction or the use of natural materials can all contribute to sustainable development. This session aims at showcasing tourism initiatives dedicated to an eco-friendly development. It will also discuss governance, job creation and capacity building.
Moderator: Alessandra Priante, Regional Director for Europe, UNWTO
Speakers:
Leigh Barnes, Chief Customer Officer, Intrepid Travel (United Kingdom)
Marc Pons, Director in Andorra Investigation + Innovation (Andorra)
Domitien Détrie, Director General of the Pyrenees Agency (France)
Jeremy Smith, Co-founder, Tourism Declares a Climate Emergency (France)
16:30 - 17:00 P/R

March 24
  • 17:00 – 17:30
  • Sra. Alessandra Priante

Closing ceremony

Hon. Mr. Francesc Camp Torres, Mayor of Canillo
Hon. Mrs. Laura Mas Barrionuevo, Mayor of Encamp, host of the 2024 Congress
Mrs. Alessandra Priante, Regional Director for Europe, UNWTO
H.E. Mr. Jordi Torres Falcó, Minister of Tourism and Telecommunications of Andorra

March 25
  • 09:00 – 18:00

Enjoy Andorra!