Snow and mountain tourism experts from around the world will gather at the 7th World Congress on Snow and Mountain Tourism Andorra to pool and acquire knowledge and monitor relevant trends in this major tourism market (Grenoble, France, April 28-29).

The World Congress on Snow and Mountain Tourism Andorra provides an important opportunity for tourism stakeholders with a special interest in snow and mountain tourism to meet, analyze current developments, and discuss prospects for this key market. Crucially, it serves as a vital platform for representatives from the world’s traditional and emerging snow and mountain countries to exchange ideas and best practices on the promotion of their destinations on world markets.

Particular emphasis will be placed during this year’s edition on the relationship between mountain destinations and the development and management of the surrounding areas, from urban planning to landscape integration, as well as the diversification of tourism products and activities in mountain areas in the framework of key adaptation strategies to fight climate change.

Co-organized by UNWTO and Andorra, the 7th edition of the congress will be held in Grenoble, France, in collaboration with Alpexpo, Grenoble’s convention center, during the Inter-professional Mountain Fair (Salon Inter-professionnel de la Montagne). Grenoble is famous as a gateway to the numerous ski resorts of the surrounding French Alps and has been a key player in developing a sustainable and competitive tourism sector.

Previously held every two years in Andorra, from 2011 the Congress will become an annual event and will be held outside of Andorra every other year. Regularly bringing together over 300 international participants, the congress has emerged as a principal forum for addressing the major issues and challenges facing mountain tourism in all its forms and seasons.