Abstract ID: 3.12039 | Accepted as Talk | Talk/Oral | TBA | TBA

Mountain regions face growing socio-environmental challenges due to climate change, requiring transformative changes in tourism practices. Our research introduces an innovative, participatory approach using the Mountain Tourism Fresco, a serious game designed to foster dialogue and collective consciousness about sustainable tourism transitions. Inspired by “Fresque du Climat”(Climate Fresk), this tool engages stakeholders in co-constructing a shared understanding of the impacts of tourism-related activities on climate and local ecosystems. Our work aligns with the conference’s theme of Living Well in mountains, as it promotes a holistic, community-driven reflection on sustainable futures for mountain destinations. The Mountain Tourism Fresco encourages participants—from policymakers to local entrepreneurs—to explore transformative pathways that balance economic development, cultural heritage, and ecological integrity. Through immersive, scenario-based exercises, the game facilitates discussions on climate adaptation, biodiversity conservation, and participatory governance, empowering communities to develop actionable solutions. This contribution will present key findings from workshops conducted in Swiss mountain regions, showcasing how embodied and experiential learning approaches enhance the transformative potential of tourism governance. We will highlight case studies illustrating behavioral shifts among participants, increased awareness of energy sufficiency-oriented tourism models, and the role of gaming in fostering systems thinking and innovation. We invite discussion on how serious games can be leveraged to inform tourism and sustainability policies in mountain areas, offering a replicable framework for participatory action research.