Soft Mobility and Geoheritage: E-Biking as a Tool for Sustainable Tourism in Mountain Environments
The increasing popularity of e-biking and e-mountain biking offers new opportunities for sustainable tourism and environmental education, particularly in mountain regions. This study focuses on the Italy–Switzerland “E-Bike” project, which integrates e-bike-friendly routes with scientific and cultur...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2025-06-01
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| Series: | Tourism and Hospitality |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2673-5768/6/2/106 |
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| author | Antonella Senese Manuela Pelfini Piera Belotti Luca Grimaldi Guglielmina Diolaiuti |
| author_facet | Antonella Senese Manuela Pelfini Piera Belotti Luca Grimaldi Guglielmina Diolaiuti |
| author_sort | Antonella Senese |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The increasing popularity of e-biking and e-mountain biking offers new opportunities for sustainable tourism and environmental education, particularly in mountain regions. This study focuses on the Italy–Switzerland “E-Bike” project, which integrates e-bike-friendly routes with scientific and cultural education across the Alps. By analyzing key points of interest along the routes, particularly glaciers and earth pyramids in Lombardy, we explore strategies for sustainable management, conservation, and public engagement. Glaciers (Forni and Ventina), facing rapid retreat due to climate change, represent sensitive environments requiring monitoring and visitor regulation. Similarly, earth pyramids in Postalesio exemplify fragile landforms shaped by erosion, requiring visitor management. This study highlights the need for strategic promotion, clear scientific communication, and sustainable tourism practices to balance conservation with accessibility. E-biking facilitates low-impact exploration of geosites, enhancing public awareness of environmental challenges while minimizing ecological footprints. Innovative digital tools (QR-coded virtual guides) enhance visitor education and engagement. By integrating e-bike tourism with geoheritage conservation, this study proposes guidelines for managing soft mobility in mountain areas, combining conservation needs with accessibility, and fostering public engagement. These findings contribute to broader discussions on sustainable tourism development, offering a replicable model for other regions seeking to harmonize recreation with environmental stewardship. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-eefab3395e444375bd0b64fbf15d341b |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2673-5768 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Tourism and Hospitality |
| spelling | doaj-art-eefab3395e444375bd0b64fbf15d341b2025-08-20T02:21:51ZengMDPI AGTourism and Hospitality2673-57682025-06-016210610.3390/tourhosp6020106Soft Mobility and Geoheritage: E-Biking as a Tool for Sustainable Tourism in Mountain EnvironmentsAntonella Senese0Manuela Pelfini1Piera Belotti2Luca Grimaldi3Guglielmina Diolaiuti4Department of Environmental Science and Policy, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20133 Milan, ItalyDepartment of Earth Sciences “A. Desio”, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20133 Milan, ItalyRegione Lombardia, 20124 Milan, ItalyERSAF Lombardia, 20124 Milan, ItalyDepartment of Environmental Science and Policy, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20133 Milan, ItalyThe increasing popularity of e-biking and e-mountain biking offers new opportunities for sustainable tourism and environmental education, particularly in mountain regions. This study focuses on the Italy–Switzerland “E-Bike” project, which integrates e-bike-friendly routes with scientific and cultural education across the Alps. By analyzing key points of interest along the routes, particularly glaciers and earth pyramids in Lombardy, we explore strategies for sustainable management, conservation, and public engagement. Glaciers (Forni and Ventina), facing rapid retreat due to climate change, represent sensitive environments requiring monitoring and visitor regulation. Similarly, earth pyramids in Postalesio exemplify fragile landforms shaped by erosion, requiring visitor management. This study highlights the need for strategic promotion, clear scientific communication, and sustainable tourism practices to balance conservation with accessibility. E-biking facilitates low-impact exploration of geosites, enhancing public awareness of environmental challenges while minimizing ecological footprints. Innovative digital tools (QR-coded virtual guides) enhance visitor education and engagement. By integrating e-bike tourism with geoheritage conservation, this study proposes guidelines for managing soft mobility in mountain areas, combining conservation needs with accessibility, and fostering public engagement. These findings contribute to broader discussions on sustainable tourism development, offering a replicable model for other regions seeking to harmonize recreation with environmental stewardship.https://www.mdpi.com/2673-5768/6/2/106ecotourismAlpsgeoheritageenvironmental managemente-bikingglaciers |
| spellingShingle | Antonella Senese Manuela Pelfini Piera Belotti Luca Grimaldi Guglielmina Diolaiuti Soft Mobility and Geoheritage: E-Biking as a Tool for Sustainable Tourism in Mountain Environments Tourism and Hospitality ecotourism Alps geoheritage environmental management e-biking glaciers |
| title | Soft Mobility and Geoheritage: E-Biking as a Tool for Sustainable Tourism in Mountain Environments |
| title_full | Soft Mobility and Geoheritage: E-Biking as a Tool for Sustainable Tourism in Mountain Environments |
| title_fullStr | Soft Mobility and Geoheritage: E-Biking as a Tool for Sustainable Tourism in Mountain Environments |
| title_full_unstemmed | Soft Mobility and Geoheritage: E-Biking as a Tool for Sustainable Tourism in Mountain Environments |
| title_short | Soft Mobility and Geoheritage: E-Biking as a Tool for Sustainable Tourism in Mountain Environments |
| title_sort | soft mobility and geoheritage e biking as a tool for sustainable tourism in mountain environments |
| topic | ecotourism Alps geoheritage environmental management e-biking glaciers |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2673-5768/6/2/106 |
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