This semester, the BS Travel & Tourism Management biannual field trip saw AUR students exploring sustainable tourism in South Tyrol, Italy鈥檚 northernmost province (and, some say, its best-kept secret).听South Tyrol is an awe-inspiring land of contrasts, where the Mediterranean meets the monumental Dolomites and where an eclectic mix of cultures: Italian, German, Austrian, and Ladin is entwined everywhere.
The Dolomites were inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2009 for their exceptional natural beauty as well as their international significance for geomorphology.
AUR students were given a unique opportunity to immerse themselves in a majestic alpine landscape as well as a captivating variety of cuisine, architecture, history, and traditions while simultaneously experiencing and engaging with听best practices in sustainable tourism.
THE STUDENT EXPERIENCE
South Tyrol through the eyes of Kelly Staudinger
鈥淚 don鈥檛 know what to expect鈥�...
鈥淢ountains aren鈥檛 my thing鈥�...
鈥淚鈥檓 nervous because it's a school trip鈥�...
鈥淲hat if it's boring鈥�...
鈥淭his is going to be exhausting鈥�...
These quotes are some of the things I heard from some students before taking this Destination Marketing class at Bolzano in the Dolomite Mountains. We couldn鈥檛 have been more wrong.
Peace entered our souls again as we hiked with Dr. Walther Dorfmann, a retired geography professor specializing in the geomorphology of the Dolomites, and his dog, up these historical, archaeologically magnificent trails. The fresh cold air blew through our lungs as we were walking through the clouds. In front of the mountains hang a curtain of clouds, slowly drifting away revealing the masterpiece ahead of us.
There we were, at a small mountain cabin, Kaserill Alm located at 1,920 m above sea level in the Puez-Odle Nature Park, feasting on exquisite traditional South Tyrolean food.听 As the curtains cleared, we had a front-row seat of the snowy peaks -听espresso and schnapps in hand -听experiencing the beauty and traditional joy of mountain life in the Dolomites.
That day we experienced every aspect of South Tyrolian culture through a historical, food and culture, sustainable, and local standpoint. Whilst enjoying traditional foods and local wines we learned about the science behind the formation of the mountains, how they formed 250 million years ago underwater, and that the majority of the mountains are fossilized shells and corals. We were even lucky enough to find fossils of shells on the trail!听
Sparkling blues, colorful lights, peace, serenity, and healing vibes. Terme Merano: Le terme in Alto Adige, the paradise of Italy, was one of the most relaxing experiences I鈥檝e ever had. Aiming to be the first fully eco-run Thermal Baths and Health Facility in Italy, ecotourism is right up their alley, as it is mine.
Getting an inside look at the facilities opened up my eyes to the depth of the world of tourism, especially ecotourism. Receiving a presentation on the transparency of these thermal baths and the work behind the marketing, upkeep, and sustainable development of the facility by their Marketing & PR Director was an amazing learning opportunity for all of us. We were able to see first-hand what careers our degrees could lead us to.
Last day, we were gifted with the interactive experience of historical tourism and granted a tour of the South Tyrol Museum of Archeology to learn about 脰tzi the Iceman, the 5,300-year-old wet mummy, one of the most important discoveries in archaeology, which changed the timeline of the Copper Age in the Alpine region by about 1,000 years and offered an unprecedented view of Copper Age Europeans. Before his discovery, it was believed that the Copper Age started a thousand years later than it did, but after finding him with a copper blade axe, history changed forever. This attraction is a locally beneficial tourism opportunity drawing people to the region for its culture and history.
Being enveloped in the cultural heritage, history, and stories of this region's most important discoveries revealed to me the different branches of tourism and how interconnected local and historical tourism are.
Having recently moved to Rome, the chaotic nature of this beautiful city, coming from the suburbs, has been an experience. Growing up in the middle of the forest in Northern New Jersey, the trees, the fresh winter air, and the northern vibes were all things I didn鈥檛 know were missing from my life. This trip instilled peace within me, a little break in nature, and a safe space, with other students like myself, sharing the same passions. It was a welcoming feeling.
I have always wanted to travel the world and see all there is to see out there, but I didn鈥檛 know where to start. Destination Marketing seemed like a perfect jump-start into exploring unique destinations and getting a deeper understanding of the world. The trip was daunting at听first,听but the experience inspired me to take action in the career path I want to pursue, regardless of how difficult it may seem. Being provided with a hands-on experiential learning opportunity to learn about ecotourism, historical tourism, food, and culture tourism, had allowed me to get an insight into my future. And now I know how I truly feel about what I want to do.
"It was听exhausting, it was exhilarating, it was liberating, and it changed my life."
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