First part The basic concept Chairman of the meeting Mr. Georges Pacquetet, Deputy Director of the Departmental Council for Haute Savoie, Annecy (France) Introduction Towards a new tourism culture : conceptual framework for the First Summit Prof. Peter Keller, School of Advanced Economic and Business Studies (HEC) of the University of Lausanne, Chairman of the "Sommets du tourisme Chamonix Mont Blanc" Scientific Committee, Lausanne (Switzerland) The ecological challenge as it stands today Speakers The main ecological dangers in the world today : what impact on tourism ? Dr. Rolf Bürki, Institute of Geography of the University of Zürich (Switzerland) The fragile nature of mountain ecology systems : what consequences for tourism-related development ? Dr. Thomas Scheurer, Inter-Academic Commission on Alpine Research, Berne (Switzerland) The most significant trends in the behaviour of tourists : are they compatible with sustainable development ? Prof. Luigi Gaido, Chairman of the Alpine Cities Scientific Committee, Turin (Italy) The part of authenticity in sustainable tourism. M. Etienne Pauchant, Marketing IPK International, Paris, Munich (France, Germany) A critical analysis of the concept of sustainable development Speakers The philosophical and ethical implications of sustainable development : what does the future hold in store for the generations to come ? Dr. Olga Rubitschon, Basel (Switzerland) Considering the complexity of tourism systems : is it possible to manage sustainable development in this field ? Mr. Philippe Moisset, Director of the French Tourism Engineering Agency (AFIT), Paris (France) The opportunities for waste-and-pollution-free tourism growth and the limitations : is zero growth possible ? Dr. Egon Smeral, Austrian Institute of Economic Development (WIFO), Vienna (Austria) New demand trends : will the "cultural landscape" give way to tourist attractions of a new kind ? Prof. Heinz-Rico Scherrieb, Würzburg (Germany)