Tourism and Agriculture, Councilor Walcher's Challenges: 'Development Only Works if Shared by the Population'

Luis Walcher, the provincial councilor for agriculture, forests, and tourism in South Tyrol, chose the Gardens of Trauttmansdorff to present his mid-term review. The gardens, indirectly affected by a recent landslide in Merano, had been closed for three days due to accessibility issues. Their reopening served as a symbolic backdrop for Walcher to declare a return to normalcy, highlighting the gardens' role in synthesizing his departmental responsibilities.

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Not all areas are the same and we must protect those with lower tourist density where we risk also depopulation.

Walcher stressed the interconnectedness of agriculture, forestry, and tourism, using the gardens as a prime example. Regarding tourism, he reiterated his stance against a blanket application of the "Bettenstop" (bed limit) policy designed to combat overtourism. "Not all areas are the same, and we must protect those with lower tourist density where we risk depopulation," he stated, confirming that the ban on increasing bed capacity would not apply to a long list of municipalities.

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The focus is on more balanced development between the stronger and weaker realities from a tourist point of view, as well as the question of how to better distribute the added value in the province, taking greater account of the population's quality of life.

He underscored that tourism remains a vital economic driver but must evolve towards qualitative criteria. "The focus is on more balanced development between strong and weak tourist regions, as well as how to better distribute added value in the province, while giving greater consideration to the population's quality of life," Walcher explained. "Long-term tourism development is only sustainable if it is shared by the population."

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Long-term tourism development is sustainable only if it is shared by the population.

Another key concern for Walcher is regulating short-term tourist rentals, with plans including a mandatory professional qualification for operators. He also directed attention to family-run farms, aiming to ensure they can earn a dignified living through reliable framework conditions and planning certainty. Walcher referenced legislative measures like the "closed-farm" law, emphasizing the goal of keeping farms within the agricultural sector and preventing their diversion to other uses, thereby preserving the rural landscape.

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My goal is to ensure that the largest possible number of these companies can live with dignity from their work; for this they need reliable framework conditions, certainty in planning, as well as proper recognition of their contributions to agriculture, landscape protection and the rural territory.