The multilingual BIP on Intercomprehension and sustainable mountain tourism hosted by the University of Turin explored “good” and “bad” tourism and sustainable ways of living in mountain regions.
From June 30 to July 4, 2025, the University of Turin welcomed 26 students from Italy, France, Spain, Portugal, and Romania for a Blended Intensive Programme (BIP) on sustainable mountain tourism, organized in the framework of the UNITA alliance.
What made this BIP unique was not only its focus on sustainability, but also its methodology: the participants engaged in all activities through intercomprehension.
Intercomprehension is a communicative approach where each person speaks in their own language and understands others through shared linguistic roots, without switching to a common lingua franca.
During the week, students explored key concepts of “good” and “bad” tourism, especially in mountain areas, with a strong focus on environmental, social, and cultural impacts. A two-day field visit to San Sicario, in the Italian Alps, allowed them to experience firsthand the effects of tourism development.
They visited San Sicario “bassa,” where they saw restored alpine houses and met Daniele Bermod, who runs a sustainable farm. Topics discussed included high-altitude agriculture, animal husbandry, and the balance between tradition and modern tourism.
Guided by anthropologist and UniTo professor Lia Zola, the students reflected on sustainable ways of living in mountain regions. They also heard from Marco Rigat, who narrated the history of the Cesana mountains — in the Occitan language.
The programme concluded with students developing multilingual guides on best practices for mountain tourism, as well as creative projects: a board game on tourism sustainability, and a rural mobility proposal for the area, complete with a mock budget.
This BIP showcased the strength of multilingual cooperation, territorial engagement, and student-driven innovation — the essence of the UNITA alliance.
2025 © unita – universitas montium
