What are the positive and negative impacts of alpine tourism and how are they managed. Flashcards
What case study can you use to show how local business has tried to tap into glaciated areas.
Chamonix in the Alps
Chamonix Location
Chamonix is located in the French Alps at the foot of Mont Blanc
Value of tourism in the winter
During the winter, more than 60,000 tourists visit Chamonix for the downhill skiing, cross country skiing, snow boarding and ice climbing
Value of tourism in the summer
The summer attracts more than 100,000 tourists including hikers, mountain bikers, climbers, paraglider and white water rafters to the area and the Tour de France spectators
In the summer The montenvers railway can take tourists to the Mer de Glace glacier where they can enter the ice cave
What social impact does this level of tourism have on the area
The social impact of tourism can be positive e.g. provides job for local people and there is less young people leaving the area upon completion of their academic studies
Tourism can however also be negative e.g.
Can lead to loss of local traditions and industries e.g. farming.
Seasonal unemployment can be associated with the quiet periods for the resort.
House prices are grossly inflated and beyond the reach of locals because rich tourists by them.
The shops and cafes cater for the tourists and can be expensive and also not what the locals require.
What are the economic costs of tourism in CHamonix
Tourism brings in significant revenue to the town. Some companies such as Comagnie Du Mont Blanc can make alot of money,
Tourism increases the need for jobs and locals benefit from investment in infrastructure including healthcare, public transport and shops.
The main challenge to the local economy is seasonal unemployment
What is the environmental impact of tourism in CHamonix
The 3 million visitors per year cause road congestion, overcrowding and polution, which can be worse than central Paris.
Tourism can conflict with local people following a traditional way of life
Mountain paths have suffered from footpath erosion creating gullies which can be dangerous.
Alpine forests are being cleared to create ski runs and chair lifts increasing the risk of avalanches
Why does tourism need to be managed
In brief the reason why Tourism needs to be managed is that whilst tourism can benefit the local economy and provide jobs, it can also have a negative social and environmental impact which could threaten the future industry.
What programmes have been introduced to manage tourism responsibly?
The tomorrow valley policy aims to allow tourism to develop in a responsible way, for example…
Any new property development has to blend in with the local surroundings
Trees are planted to hide the skiing activity
Electricity is connected under ground rather than by unsightly pilons
To manage the threat of climate change, hiking trails and mountain biking pathways are being opened as part of a diversification programme
To reduce the risk of polution visitors travel free on clean energy private transport and cable cars
To reduce footpath erosion hikers and mountain bikers are encouraged to stay on clearly marked footpaths.
To reduce the risk of avalanches causing injury or death to tourists which would result in very bad publicity, potentially threatening the number of tourists who come to the area. A carefully managed avalanche risk management programme is in place.
To reduce the issue of seasonal unemployment local residents are encouraged to have more than one job
To reduce the impact of seasonality, the local tourist association promotes the area to Asia during their monsoon season.
