On March 27, 2025, a participatory workshop was held in Chiesa in Valmalenco, dedicated to the young people of the valley. The aim was to engage in a critical and constructive discussion about the future of the area. The evening was structured into several phases: an icebreaker activity to encourage dialogue, a session of “idea critique” and “idea generation” based on previously emerged proposals, and a final moment of sharing.
During the initial activity, participants expressed their views on statements related to the future of local tourism, sustainability, and scenarios linked to the disappearance of snow. On one hand, there was pessimism about the decline in tourist flows and the dependency on ski facilities; on the other, there was optimism about alternative forms of tourism connected to nature.
In the discussion on ideas from previous meetings, participants critically analyzed proposals around three main themes: the future of the ski area, accessibility, and services for young people. Regarding the ski area, the need to modernize existing infrastructure was emphasized, along with a call to avoid further expansion and to enhance summer and cultural activities, including the potential creation of a geological-naturalistic park. For accessibility, participants supported solutions such as improved public transport and efficient shuttle services for both tourists and residents. Concerning youth, the proposal of a “Grey Community” to attract remote workers emerged, as well as the enhancement of educational and cultural services, including a public library.
For each idea, key stakeholders, required resources, and initial concrete steps were identified. The workshop concluded with a shared commitment to building local networks and initiating operational meetings to turn ideas into actions. A key takeaway was the need to move beyond individualism and foster synergies between public entities, private actors, and the local community to develop a shared vision for the tourism of tomorrow.
