The Resort FactorsMost of the issues faced by ski resorts are the same as any tourist destination, pressures on infrastructure, development, increased energy consumption and waste, traffic and pollution. They are sometimes exacerbated by the uniqueness of mountain terrain, for example the occurrence of inversions, where the temperature in the valley is colder than the summit, traps pollution making it visible and unsightly. Narrow routes and passes can exacerbate congestion. However, despite these difficulties, many mountain communities are leaders in managing destinations and the environment in harmony. They realise both the importance of tourism to the local economy but equally the fragility and beauty of the mountains.
Since the beginning of the 20th century when skiing first emerged as a recreational activity, it has been seen as a vital method to arrest the decline of mountain communities and prevent out-migration to valley or industrial areas. There have been no studies to accurately measure the economic benefits of skiing to communities, however, it is evident that there are many communities worldwide that would either no longer exist or would not enjoy a reasonable standard of living were it not for the skiing industry. It is the most important source of income in the alpine areas of Switzerland, and despite the concerns of climate change or the negative impacts on the environment, there are communities in Switzerland where other employment options, including the textile industry and agriculture have declined to such a degree that they are reliant on state support and see the expansion of the local ski area as the only way for the community to become self reliant. Closer to home, the Scottish Office estimated that downhill skiing in a good season can generate over £20million worth of expenditure in local economies and this has aided population stability and prevented out migration In Canada, a third of the amount spent in Alberta’s parks is directly attributed to downhill skiing and sustains over 10,000 person years of province wide employment. Additionally, this supported the rest of the country since it was responsible for the importation of CAN$64 million worth of goods from other parts of Canada. Furthermore, the winter season then enabled park businesses to employ people year round and thus employment was stabilised. The United States Forest Service states that the value of tourism is 25 times greater than logging. Nonetheless there are resorts that do not benefit the local community much, disrupt the local way of life and overwhelm the infrastructure – certainly not adhering to the key principle of Responsible Tourism being “making better places for people to live in”. The provision of accommodation and facilities is the essence of a resort and it is imperative that locals develop, run and stay in control of them, this way they retain control of their destination. Those resorts that have, for example, sold off land to developers and allowed them to build apartments, make a profit on the land, but risk being undermined on price positioning and risk ghost towns of empty properties rather than hotels open and in use year round. Find out more in The Resort Factors – Accommodation & Facilities Resorts need to plan the development carefully and look to create an overall plan focussing on the zones available for construction, the proportion of plots to be given over property versus open space and the size and style of the buildings. Without an overall plan, development can be haphazard and become out of step with other factors such as infrastructure. There are some unsightly developments that were put up hastily in the 60’s and 70’s (many of which are thankfully being replaced) however it is important to ensure this does not happen again. Find out more in The Resort Factors – Architecture & Planning An influx of tourists for parts of the year, with the inherent peak times of weekend changeovers and morning rushes to get to the pistes, creates congestion and a real requirement to plan and manage the traffic flow. Without comprehensive public transport, resorts can be unpleasant and polluted. There are resorts leading the way in ‘soft mobility options’ and making pedestrians more important than cars. Find out more in The Resort Factors – Traffic & Transport With tourists in some ski resorts outnumbering locals by 6:1, a small village can turn into a town for part of the year, and a town requires significantly more energy and waste management. Some resorts are making large capital investments in local renewable energy production including biomass, hydro electricity and solar energy. Find out more in The Resort Factors – Energy & Waste Climate change may have a large impact on ski resorts and a resort should never be dependent on just one activity such as skiing. Resorts that offer a wide range of activities will be more resilient and have competitive advantage. Many activities are low impact and allow tourists to get closer to the mountains and the mountain culture. Find out more in The Resort Factors – Activities A resort with thousands of skiers partying hard with music pumping into the night is a far cry from the traditional peaceful mountain villages of old. A ski resort can make a big change to the local culture and way of life. However, the resort can decide what route it wants to take, what clientele to seek out and the entertainment on offer. Find out more in The Resort Factors – Social & Local Culture Skiing has enabled many mountain communities to survive and thrive however that tourism needs to complement, blend and be part of the community not separate or overpowering. There are many ways to manage a ski destination so that everyone benefits from and appreciates the tourism. The good news is that resorts that do achieve this will also be offering you, the skier, a better, more pleasant and enriching holiday. |  Accommodation
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