Estimating the Economic Impacts of a Small-Scale Sport Tourism Event: The Case of the Italo-Swiss Mountain Trail CollonTrek.

Evidence from several studies shows that small-scale sport events may have more positive repercussions for the host community than major ones in terms of both economic and social impacts. This study estimates the economic impacts on a small community derived from athletes’ expenditure at a specific small-scale sport tourism event, the Italo-Swiss mountain endurance trail CollonTrek. Even if this kind of event is considered a minor sport event, generating very limited economic activity, this study supports the hypothesis that the funds invested by the public administration are compensated for by revenue generated during the trail. In fact, according to the three analyzed scenarios (Conservative, Average and Liberal), for each euro invested by the public administration, an economic return between €17.62 and €18.92 has been estimated, and between €5.64 and €6.9 (32%–36.47%) represent the direct economic return for the local community. Furthermore, in addition to the direct economic benefits, in accordance with the feedback from a sample of participants at the event (n = 180), this kind of event has positive implications in terms of future tourism for the host valley, pointing out how this kind of tourist activities has positive repercussions in terms of economic and social sustainability

Mountain tourism in Europe

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Environmental Management and Sustainable Labels in the Ski Industry: A Critical Review

Sustainability is increasing in importance in relation to the competitiveness of winter tourism, particularly when considering mountain destinations. Exploring in more detail winter tourism related to ski resorts, operators are especially concerned about environmental issues caused by climate change. Therefore, they have gradually become aware of the importance of finding adequate solutions to cope with such issues as well as being able to sensitize tourists. The main goal of this paper is to analyze the different sustainable tools that can be adopted by the ski industry. In this field there appear to be two main approaches. The first line is that of sustainable labels being applied to local ski resorts; whereas the second consists in operators—such as the managers of cable cars—making use of specific labels or management systems that are environmentally oriented

Evolution And Revolution In Contemporary Pathology

Introduction/ Background Cloud Pathology Group participated in the XI European Congress on Telepathology presenting the results of its great “in vitro research” about the use of HTS scanners in surgical pathology and in the XII European Congress on Digital Pathology presenting the preliminary results of its “in vivo research” done at the Busto Arsizio Multihospital Pathology Department, ended on June 30,2015. Aims The aim of this abstract is to complete the Paris presentation and to highlight the conclusions of the three years and a half research work on the application of digital pathology in surgical activities. These conclusions became the base of the CPG software prototype (digital suite) put on the market by the Company. Methods The methods applied during the “in vitro research” and the “in vivo research” were described in 2012 and 2014 presentations. Afterwards, the work done consists in • defining of specific tests to be executed on surgical specific diagnoses, • defining the expected results of the tests, • tests execution and validation of results, • comparing expected and effective results, • defining an evaluating the deviations • defining how to proceed further. This Loup method was applied n times until a definitive specific conclusion was found. Results There is no evidence that digital diagnoses present more risks than the microscopes’ ones. The costs per diagnosis increase due to new investments and new running costs, however the level of the increase depends on the organizational model adopted. The higher is the volume of the slides treated, the lower are the costs per diagnosis. The higher is the standardization of the slides that the Laboratory produces, the higher is the accuracy of the diagnosis. The greater is the number of the pathologists involved in the network entitled to a diagnosis, the higher is the accuracy of the diagnosis (side effect of the specialization). The second opinion solution is a slow process; it is better to produce the diagnosis by involving more pathologists in the same process in the same time (collaborative diagnosis). The Data Base on work’ tracking is the main requirement for the quality control procedure, for the evaluation process of the professional skills and for the work assignments. The electronic repository of the images instead of the physical stock of slides cuts relevant costs. The organization of Data Base, its flexibility and its multi-proprietary approach are the keys of the quality of the entire solution. At all, digital pathology is a total change process. The fundamentals of its success are: • clear comprehension of the organizational effects to be put on place, • massive educational programs on new technologies and on change management, for pathologist, technicians and therapists, • strong change management assistance, • coherent behaviour in all people involved.