Tourism in an Alpine Area

Question 1

What is our case study for tourism in an Alpine area?

Answer 1

Chamonix, France

Question 2

How many cross country skiing courses does Chamonix have?

Answer 2

2

Question 3

How many visitors a day does Chamonix have in Summer?

Answer 3

100,000

Question 4

How many people work as seasonal workers in Chamonix?

Answer 4

2,500

Question 5

How long are Chamonix’s hiking trails?

Answer 5

350km

Question 6

What happened in Chamonix 1999?

Answer 6

An avalanche killed 12 people

Question 7

What is the population of Chamonix?

Answer 7

10,000

Question 8

How much does the rail transport in Chamonix earn a year?

Answer 8

50 million

Question 9

How many visitors a day does Chamonix have in Winter?

Answer 9

60,000

Question 10

How far is Chamonix from Switzerland and Italy?

Answer 10

15km

Question 11

How long are the bike tracks in Chamonix

Answer 11

40km

Question 12

How many ski areas does Chamonix have?

Answer 12

6

Question 13

Where is Chamonix located?

Answer 13

In the North-west Alps, France

Question 14

Name three social impacts of tourism on Chamonix

Answer 14

• Reduces out-migration of young
• Introduces new culture through tourist and migrant workers
• Noise pollution disturbs locals
• Language difficulties
• Traditional ways of life under pressure

Question 15

Name three economic impacts of tourism on Chamonix

Answer 15

• Employment
• Brings tourism to the area and as a result money
• Improvement in facilities and infrastructure
• Generates a second income for farmers in winter
• Increases house prices
• Increases prices in shops
• Large chain stores take business away from local stores
• More money has to be spent on maintaining the area
• Farming has declined as tourism is more profitable

Question 16

Name three environmental impacts of tourism on Chamonix

Answer 16

• Better management of the environment
• Noise from cars and tourists
• Litter from tourists
• Ski lifts look ugly and spoil scenery
• Deforestation- loss of wildlife and wild flowers
• Increased avalanche risk due to skiers skiing off-piste and deforestation
• Vegetation slopes ruined for summer months
• Increased vehicle emissions is contributing to acid rain

Question 17

What management strategies have been put in place to manage tourists in Chamonix?

Answer 17

• The implementation of a local bus service to reduce the use of cars. Buses now take skiers to the foot of the piste and chair lifts.
• Clean electricity from hydroelectric powers stations is used to run all transport services.
• Tourists are made aware through literature and boards of information on how to behave and treat the environment.
• Trees have been planted to reduce the avalanche risk and improve the appearance of the area.
• Building is only allowed on lower slopes so fewer roads have to be built.
• Areas of bare slope are fenced off and re-seeded.
• Camonix is part of the Trans-national Area trying to improve and protect the alpine environment.
• Support for the local farmers by letting their animals roam the mountains in summer.
• People are employed to clear the slopes of litter as soon as the snow melts.