Cover the ice or ski on grass?

ABSTRACT

Climate change is having a world-wide impact, particularly on the cryosphere, which is experiencing rapid melting with a range of consequences for the environment and society. In many places, reduced snow and ice have implications for the experiences of visitors. This article reviews the impacts of deglaciation on glacier and ski tourism and in doing so, it brings together human and physical geography. We begin by summarising the relationships between glaciers and climate change, highlighting impacts of glacier retreat, before considering tourism in glaciated areas. We explore ways in which some locations are adapting to changing environmental conditions and examine tactics that have been used to manage the effects of deglaciation on tourism, specifically in the European Alps. Glacier conservation, snow harvesting, the production of artificial snow and modifying the range of tourist experiences all illustrate the dilemmas involved in adapting to climate change in practice.

Acknowledgements

Thank you to the staff at the Stubai Glacier, for their help and granting permission to conduct research on-site. A special thank you to Charlotte Carver, for field assistance, and to Tim and Lydia Carver for their support in planning and preparation for field work. We are grateful to Simaranjit Kaur Sangha and Gordon Walker for their comments on this article. We would also like to thank Owen Treais and Mai Duay for allowing us to use their photos. The constructive comments of an anonymous reviewer significantly improved this article.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Rachael E. Carver

Rachael Carver is a Geospatial Technician with the Coal Authority, Mansfield, UK (email: [email protected]; Twitter: @RachaelCarver15).

Fiona S. Tweed

Fiona Tweed is Professor of Physical Geography in the Department of Crime, Society and Environment at Staffordshire University, UK (email: [email protected]; Twitter: @ProfFionaTweed).