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Mountain resorts, with their direct links to their local communities and valleys, are key drivers of tourism. This activity is essential to the economic balance of the region, because of the importance of the income and the direct, indirect and induced jobs it generates. Faced with the challenges posed by global warming, the objectives of energy sobriety, good management of water resources, reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, risk forecasting and management, and consideration of all areas of the ecological transition are a necessity now recognised by all. This cannot be achieved without a link to theevolution of tourism models, in particular with a view to broadening the season wings and an approach to the mountains for all, all year round, taking into account the preservation of natural areas. These two major areas of transformation towards the economically efficient, ecologically responsible and socially inclusive mountains of tomorrow – the evolution of tourism models and the ecological transition – will be at the heart of the OCOVA 2025 Forum programme. |
Connected sports: a new appeal for mountain sports and leisure activities
With regard to the development of tourism models to ensure the necessary resilience in the face of global warming, the aim is to work towards extending the wings of the season to achieve a better distribution of tourist flows by developing the attractiveness and diversity of the mountain sports and leisure offer, with a view to making the mountains accessible to all, whatever the season. Where local conditions allow (altitude, exposure, etc.), this will be done while preserving the existing models that generate the income needed to finance the transition.
With a view to the 2030 Olympics, and building on the achievements of the Les Orres Sport Innovation Centre and the partnerships currently being developed with R&I specialists and manufacturers in the sector, a session will be devoted to connected sport. Presentations of applications and achievements will show how digital technology and innovative image/movement technologies offer a new approach to mountain sports and leisure activities, generating appeal, pleasure and performance for all categories of user – from beginners to top-level sportsmen and women – and in all areas of practice – discovery, initiation, training, fitness, sports training and performance optimisation, etc.
Data-driven ecological transition and risk management
In terms of the ecological transition towards mountains playing an active part in reducing the carbon footprint and combating global warming, there can be no effective action programme without precise knowledge of the realities on the ground and how they are changing. This data-driven decision-making approach is based on collecting, analysing, exploiting, exploiting and sharing data. There are many ways of acquiring such data: ground-based sensors deployed in the field (Internet of Things), aerial data (drones) and space data (satellites), which are needed to manage efficiently infrastructures (energy, water, waste, transport) and the risks increased by climate disruption. The complementary nature of these data sources, with their different horizons and granularity, means that regional management and data sharing can be optimised at different levels: operators, local and regional authorities, and the Alpine space as a whole. Forum 2025 will devote a session to examining such complementarities and the opportunities offered by case studies, collaborative projects, pilot field deployments and their results.
Sharing a vision for the future of the mountains
A round table will bring together key players in the development of mountain regions and their activities to discuss the mountains of tomorrow , with a view to the 2030 Olympic Games: political decision-makers, representatives of research and innovation, industry, professional organisations, local authorities and development bodies.
The detailed Forum programme is being prepared and will be available online shortly.