Rethinking Tourism in the Dolomites: Sustainable Pathways from the La Sportiva Outdoor Paradise Project

This thesis analyses La Sportiva Outdoor Paradise as a tourism alternative to the mainstream model, considering its potential to promote sustainable development through its environmental, economic, and social impacts on the local community and the surrounding area. To achieve this, the thesis will first explore the evolution of the Alps, with a particular focus on tourism dynamics, the ski industry, and the key factors that have fostered overtourism and ski monoculture in the region. The analysis addresses the environmental, social, and economic impacts of mass tourism, emphasising the urgency to rethink alpine development strategies in light of climate change. Central to this discussion are the concepts of limits and the human-nature relationship as a starting point for creating a new sustainable future for the Alps. Through a combination of literature review and qualitative interviews, the study demonstrates how initiatives like La Sportiva Outdoor Paradise can serve as models for reimagining tourism practices. The findings highlight their capacity to balance economic development and environmental sustainability, strengthen local communities, and enhance resilience to climate challenges across the Alps.