KURT – Climate-Ready and Resilient in the Thermen- & Vulkanland
Every year, the Federal Ministry of Labour and Economy launches a call for flagship projects in rural areas.
The aim of the 2023 funding initiative, themed “Innovative Concepts for Climate Change Adaptation and Resilience in Tourism”, was to develop innovative approaches that address the medium- and long-term impacts of climate change on tourism. The “KURT” project submitted by the Thermen- & Vulkanland tourism region was selected as the winning project and is being implemented in 2024.
The new Austrian Assessment Report on Climate Change (AAR2) highlights how climate change is already affecting Austria, with noticeable consequences such as extreme heat, heavy rainfall and periods of drought. The need for action is particularly urgent in vulnerable sectors such as tourism, agriculture and healthcare.
For the first time, the report provides a comprehensive assessment of climate change in Austria, drawing on thousands of scientific studies. Its aim is to provide a sound evidence base for decision-making in politics, public administration and business.
Flagship Project for Climate Change Adaptation
The Thermen- & Vulkanland tourism region in southeastern Styria combines Mediterranean flair with Pannonian influences, resulting in mild winters and hot summers. These conditions provide an ideal setting for outdoor activities such as cycling and golf. However, increasingly frequent summer heatwaves are creating new challenges, particularly for tourist attractions and leisure activity providers.
KURT addresses the impacts of climate change on tourism in the region. A newly established competence centre is launching a comprehensive process to develop appropriate solutions. Experts, tourism businesses and local residents are involved in this process, which also includes a SWOT analysis. The findings will be incorporated into the training of “Climate Adaptation Coaches” and the development of a digital handbook (e-handbook) containing practical recommendations for adapting tourism development to the changing climate.
January – November 2024
Objective 1: Development and Establishment of a Competence Centre for Climate-Ready and Resilient Tourism in the Thermen- & Vulkanland
The Competence Centre for Climate-Ready and Resilient Tourism in the Thermen- & Vulkanland, developed as part of KURT, brings together industry representatives to work on climate-adapted and resilient tourism offerings. Its aim is to address the challenges of climate change and develop solutions collaboratively. The competence centre forms the foundation for all sub-projects within KURT and invites stakeholders from various sectors to participate. A project advisory board supports the implementation process and ensures that a wide range of perspectives is taken into account.
February – July 2024
Objective 2: Assessment of Current and Projected Climate-Related Impacts on Tourism Offerings in the Thermen- & Vulkanland
At the Competence Centre for Climate-Ready and Resilient Tourism, scientific findings are researched and discussed to help shape future tourism offerings. Flexible research methods are used, including qualitative interviews with experts, surveys of tourism businesses and visitors, and the involvement of the local population. The collected data is anonymised and analysed to provide a foundation for the next stages of the project.
July – September 2024
Objective 3: Establishing a Foundation for the Training and Professional Development of Climate Adaptation Coaches
The Competence Centre for Climate-Ready and Resilient Tourism, established as part of the KURT project, pursues three main objectives: knowledge transfer, knowledge generation and knowledge sharing. It lays the foundation for training and professional development programmes, particularly the training of Climate Adaptation Coaches. These coaches will help tourism businesses develop individual, climate-adapted and resilient tourism offerings. The training content will be developed as part of KURT and tailored to the specific needs of the region. A teaching concept will also be created to ensure that the training content is communicated effectively.
October – December 2024
Objective 4: Development of an Action Guide Including Strategic Priorities and Practical Implementation Recommendations for Tourism Businesses and the Tourism Association
An action guide with practical implementation recommendations will be developed to provide tourism businesses and the Tourism Association with a tool for putting the project findings into practice. The guide will be based on a comprehensive SWOT analysis examining the climate-related impacts on the region’s tourism offerings. The findings will be discussed at the Competence Centre for Climate-Ready and Resilient Tourism to identify strategic priorities. All the knowledge gained and data collected will be incorporated into a final action guide and an e-handbook, providing tourism businesses with practical case studies and recommendations for developing climate-adapted tourism offerings.
Contact and Information:
Erlebnisregion Thermen- & Vulkanland
Mag. (FH) Jörg Pfeifer
Telefon: +43 3382 55 100 7116
E-Mail: joerg.pfeifer@thermen-vulkanland.at
Website: www.thermen-vulkanland.at
