The Tyrolian Way: Developing a Sustainable Tourism Policy

This research paper takes up the call for a more active role of tourism researchers in tourism policy and planning processes by presenting an action research account on the latest tourism planning and policy process of the region Tyrol, Austria. The findings discuss the results of this process based on the three layers of (1) imaging a tourism vision, (2) developing major guidelines and guiding measures, and (3) defining a multidimensional performance measurement. The methodology details the research and planning process by describing the interventions, workshops, and data-gathering approaches. The contribution outlines how researchers can engage and contribute to tourism policy and planning processes, and how a policy process can incorporate economic, social, and environmental goals. The discussion provides a critical reflection on the benefits and challenges of a research-led tourism policy process

The Tyrolian Way: Developing a Sustainable Tourism Policy

Philipp K. Wegerer, PhD is a Research Associate at the MCI Tourism, Management Center Innsbruck. His research focuses on how tourism organizations interact with society. This includes the dimensions strategy, digitalization, activism, and branding. His research is published in JoST, Organization, GJHRM, and IJRDM. Theresa Mitterer-Leitner is a Lecturer at the MCI Tourism, Management Center Innsbruck. Her research interests are tourism and space and tourism and agriculture. She serves as a program coordinator for the BA Tourism Business Studies and currently works on her PhD on alpine pastures as a tourism landscape. Professor Hubert Siller is head of department of the MCI Tourism, Management Center Innsbruck. His research interests include destination management and strategy, destination competitiveness and tourism policy and planning. He is particularly concerned with applied tourism research and connecting tourism research with the tourism industry.This research paper takes up the call for a more active role of tourism researchers in tourism policy and planning processes by presenting an action research account on the latest tourism planning and policy process of the region Tyrol, Austria. The findings discuss the results of this process based on the three layers of (1) imaging a tourism vision, (2) developing major guidelines and guiding measures, and (3) defining a multidimensional performance measurement. The methodology details the research and planning process by describing the interventions, workshops, and data-gathering approaches. The contribution outlines how researchers can engage and contribute to tourism policy and planning processes, and how a policy process can incorporate economic, social, and environmental goals. The discussion provides a critical reflection on the benefits and challenges of a research-led tourism policy process