April 28th 2015

Innsbruck University and the MCI welcome the Tyrolean Tourism Research Center

Exemplary cooperation between the state authority, the tourism industry and the scientific community in the framework of Campus Tyrol – Groundbreaking initiative to strengthen the economy, competitivity and a common business and science location

With 45 million bednights per year, the Tyrolean tourism industry is the region’s international calling card and an important pillar for the future of the Tyrol, for the further development of the infrastructure and the protection of jobs and affluence in the region.

The Tyrolean tourism industry is also a competitor on a global market, one that is influenced to a high degree by changes in society and the natural environment. If it is to maintain its fundamental role for Tyrolean society in the future, it needs – among other things – a broad-based tourism and leisure research program of an international standard to address the specific challenges confronting businesses, destinations, associations, suppliers and employees. In this context, tourism is seen as a key pillar for the general societal development of the Tyrol.

Against this background, Innsbruck University and Management Center Innsbruck are playing a committed role as driving forces for science, research, training and innovation in a joint Tyrolean Tourism Research Center and welcome the common initiative taken in the framework of Campus Tyrol: “With the Tyrolean Tourism Research Center – to be financed by the Tyrolean state authority, the Tyrolean Chamber of Commerce and the tourism associations and run jointly by Management Center Innsbruck and Innsbruck University – a systematic institutional basis has been created for the further development of the tourism industry and related research. This is an important step into the future for the Tyrol. Innsbruck University will contribute to this undertaking with the competencies of its various faculties bundled in a dedicated research center for leisure and tourism,” says a delighted Tilmann Märk as Rector of Innsbruck University.

MCI Rector Andreas Altmann is equally pleased: "The results generated by the joint Tyrolean Tourism Research Center will supply a basis for decision-making in the development of optimum framework conditions at the level of the Tyrolean state and individual destinations and for key market segments. To that extent, the center will provide direct support for product development by individual businesses. Quality assurance will be handled in consultation with the Research Council in terms of the scientific basis and practical relevance of the results. The decision to pool the competencies of the actors involved is one of the keys to success and one of the main elements of Campus Tyrol."

In the next few weeks, the details of the planned Tyrolean Tourism Research Center (work programs, committee, appointments, etc.) will be communicated at a joint press conference held by the Tyrolean state authority, the Tyrolean Chamber of Commerce, the tourism associations, Innsbruck University and the MCI.



Press contacts and queries University of Innsbruck:
Mag. Uwe Steger
Büro für Öffentlichkeitsarbeit
Universität Innsbruck
+43 512 507 32000
uwe.steger@uibk.ac.at

Press contacts and queries MCI:
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