Tourism in a glaciated area: Chamonix Flashcards
Chamonix? Where is THAT?!
Situated in the north-western Alps, just 15km from both Switzerland and Italy (via the Mont Blanc tunnel).
Chamonix sits in the shadow of which famous mountain?
Mont Blanc, Europe’s highest mountain at 4,808m
Chamonix has been a hub for tourism for over 250 years. Stunning scenery encourages outdoor enthusiasts to come here in their thousands… but how many thousands of tourists are here, every day, in a) summer and b) winter?
a) 100,000 in summer.
b) 60,000 in winter.
The resident population is only 10,000…!
What are the winter attractions?
Skiing and snowboarding is popular here, as there is lots to do for all abilities.
Cable cars and railways make slope access easier than elsewhere.
Cross country skiing has become popular here too.
Ice climbing is another popular extreme sport.
With museums, shops, historic buildings and a good variety of restaurants, as well as a lot of tourist accommodation, everything the tourist could need is here!
What about the summer?
Visit the Mer de Glace
Use 350km of marked walking trails or miles of mountain biking tracks.
Climbing, paragliding, rafting, canyoneering and pony trekking are also very popular activities.
Live music and colourful outdoor cafes make good evening entertainment.
Benefits of tourism are…
- Tourists bring lots of economic benefits, creating jobs for people in hotels, shops and the construction industry.
- Local people benefit from top notch health facilities and public transport that wouldn’t be afforded if the tourists weren’t there.
- Streets are pedestrianised because of the volume of tourists - clean and safe for young children.
Problems of tourism are…
- Chamonix becomes noisy and crowded. The roads are narrow and cannot cope.
- Footpaths in the mountains have become eroded due to the huge number of walkers and people using bikes.
- Shops are over priced - locals often cannot afford this.
- Wealthy tourists buy second homes so there is less accommodation for locals and so the prices go up.
- Conflicts can arise between different user groups.
How does Chamonix try to manage these problems?
- The town tries to promote responsible tourism, balancing the demands of people with the needs of the fragile environment.
- Environmentally friendly, FREE public transport encourages people not to use their cars.
What is the Espace Mont Blanc initiative?
It encourages cooperation between France, Italy and Switzerland on issues of transport, water resources and conservation.
What projects have occured as a result of the ‘Tomorrow’s Valley’ initiative?
- Service cables buried (e.g. electricity lines) to reduce visual pollution.
- Historic buildings renovated.
- Natural wetland habitats in the area are being conserved
- Tree planting to reduce impact of skiing and avalanches.
- Maintaining paths and signposts so that tourists do not wander off into sensitive areas.
- Support local farming to keep traditions alive.
