Abstract
Alpine winter tourism faces mounting challenges from climate change, with warmer winters, reduced snow reliability, and increasing variability in precipitation reshaping the foundations of snow-based economies. The BeyondSnow project, co-funded by the Interreg Alpine Space programme, addresses these transformations by focusing on small- and medium-sized mountain destinations and their communities. Bringing together 13 partners and 10 pilot areas across six Alpine countries, the project seeks to enhance the resilience of local tourism systems while safeguarding ecosystems, infrastructures, and livelihoods. Core activities include assessing climate vulnerability, implementing pilot actions for adaptive strategies, and raising awareness through stakeholder engagement. Emphasis is placed on diversifying tourism offers, extending the season beyond traditional winter peaks, and integrating snow-independent activities to foster year-round opportunities. BeyondSnow also explores mobility optimization, participatory governance, and stronger cross-sectoral cooperation to align adaptation with sustainable regional development. By linking local initiatives to broader Alpine and European policy frameworks, the project generates transferable knowledge and practical solutions for communities navigating ecological uncertainty. Ultimately, BeyondSnow highlights the need to reimagine mountain tourism as a resilient, diversified, and sustainable system capable of thriving in a rapidly changing climate.