Virtual climbing tours and new winter sports ideas
At the Sport.Tourism.Forum, which took place on Friday to kick off the “Grenzenlos” vacation fair, the latest trends in the tourism industry were presented. The traditional vacation is a thing of the past. Guests are looking for lasting memories that they can share and “like.”.
Sport is traditionally one of the cornerstones of tourism in Alpine destinations. But innovations are in demand. At the Sport.Tourismus.Forum in St.Gallen, a number of ideas were presented that should also help tourism to gain new momentum in terms of sport. 30 experts provided in-depth insights. One trend emerged clearly: weather-independent outdoor experiences should help to attract guests to destinations in the future.
This is precisely where Hologate comes in. The company is the global market leader for virtual reality games that are played in groups. Virtual worlds become reality in various game genres. According to Robert-Maximilian Fankhänel, COO of Hologate, this is a trend that tourism regions can take advantage of. One example of this is the ICAROS flight simulator. Guests ascend to lofty heights and glide over the Alps. "Places that appear in the games create a desire to visit them in reality," says Robert-Maximilian Fankhänel. Virtual climbing tours are already possible thanks to the new technology. "Virtual reality is constantly evolving and will be suitable for the masses from 2020," says Fankhänel.
Birgit Hajek from Netural spoke about how digital devices can be used to attract guests to real vacation regions. The Linz-based company organizes so-called Instawalks. These special walks bring together photo fans who otherwise only know each other virtually. Winning over Instagrammers as ambassadors for your own region is obvious, as 80 percent of all users follow companies on Instagram. However, Hajek advises not just focusing on reach. "Regions also benefit from influencers who have fewer followers. The person has to fit their destination. You can achieve the best results with 1000 followers or more," says Hajek.
With skates to the ski resort
If Martin Schobert from Alpine Ice has his way, the first guests will soon be putting on their skates in alpine locations. The idea goes far beyond the usual ice rink on the mountain. The "Alpine Ice" pilot project sends tourists skating through the ski area on three-metre-wide ice skating paths. The free skating can even be done at 20 degrees plus. But that is not the aim, says Schobert. Rather, the existing infrastructure is to be expanded with this winter offer. In 2020, the freestyle will be implemented for the first time in Salzburg at the Gasteiner Bergbahnen. "We are investing 800,000 euros," says Schobert. According to his calculations, the investment will pay for itself within three years. Alpine Ice is a ready-made experience product that can basically be implemented in just a few days.
Cycle tourism is booming
In addition to the latest winter sports ideas and virtual excursions, classic sports were in the spotlight at the forum. "Guests are looking for an experience where they can break out and showcase themselves," said Samuel Zuberbühler from Switzerland Tourism. Despite digitalization and virtual trends, classics such as hiking are still very popular. Biking and e-biking are even booming. "The bicycle is now considered a lifestyle object," said Zuberbühler. The number of cyclists and road cyclists in urban areas is increasing worldwide. This trend is also clearly evident in Switzerland. 340,000 bicycles were sold in Switzerland in 2018.
Whether the guest chooses a vacation region in reality or virtually - events like the one in St. Gallen create an exceptional platform for encounters.
