Alpine Nature Experience owner, Jean-Francois Rupp, lives by the motto, “only say, do your bit, lead by example and hopefully make a difference.”
“I remember a speech where the lecturer said, “be a teacher, even if you are not a teacher, be a teacher”.
“And if you work in tourism, the chances are that in one way or another, you rely on the environment you’re in to get people through the door. So the bare minimum is to do as much as possible to preserve this environment.”
We caught up with Jean-Francois for this week’s Talking Travel. Here is what he had to say.
What does your job involve?
Depends on the time ot the year and the time of the day. No two days are the same, and when you run a small business, you end up doing everything;) So I can be an accountant in the morning, marketing manager at lunch, tour guide in the afternoon and janitor at night.
How have you tackled the difficulties caused by COVID-19?
Working primarily in the snow season, we coped it in a very frontal way, unfortunately. After the cancellation of last years’ season, we lost 98% of our yearly income. That just on the back of the bushfires… Not the best 18months.
What do you enjoy most about your profession?
Absolutely everything, particularly being outside, in a very special place.
What are the biggest challenges for you in your profession (outside of COVID-19)?
It is reconciling nature, sustainability and tourism. It’s all about managing long term strategy and not growing too fast.
What do you think are the biggest challenges the industry faces?
There is little doubt that over the next few decades, people will travel less and their buying power will most likely be reduced. This also often means fewer holidays, and closer. That can be a good thing if we take care of the great assets Australia has and don’t compromise them in favour of fossil fuel and extraction of other resources.
What do you think will be the biggest game-changer in the travel industry in the next 12 months’?
Once the economy goes back to normal and the injection of cash stops, we will most likely hit a small recession. This means less travel for the middle class. The most wealthy will make the most of the border, reopening taking their money overseas. This means a very diluted national tourism market. Especially as I don’t think we will return to the level of international tourists pre COVID 19.
What destination/travel trend do you think is the next big thing?
Nature-based travel, in comfort. People want the authenticity that nature can provide without having to compromise on comfort.
What are your thoughts on responsible travel and how do you try to implement this in your workplace?
We really try to be leaders in sustainable tourism at a small scale. This really applies to all aspects of the business. From development to HR to the way we run our experiences.
Who inspires you most and why?
Yvon Chouniar – I know, very stereotypical but he really was a pioneer.
What is your must-pack travel item(s)?
Toothbrush, Tenkara rod, and an opinel knife.
Who would you invite on your next holiday if you could choose anyone and where would you go?
With a full-on business and two toddlers at home, a little bit of one on one time with my wife would be an absolute luxury. Anywhere with no phone reception would be great, but if I had to dream big, Patagonia would be top of the list.
Contact Email – info@AlpineNatureExperience.com.au
Images: Visit Victoria
