Does artificial snow production pay under future climate conditions? – A case study for a vulnerable ski area in Austria

The prospects of increasing temperatures, a growing frequency of snow scarce winter seasons and rising energy prices raise questions about the future profitability of snowmaking. Therefore, we carry out a cost–revenue analysis of snowmaking based on projected daily snowmaking hours and visitor numbers until 2050 for a case study site in Austria. The results show that ski area operators are at risk of facing a substantial increase in total energy costs due to expected rising electricity costs, although the total amount of snowmaking hours is projected to slightly decrease because of shrinking feasible time for snowmaking (considering current snowmaking infrastructure). In the long run ski visitor numbers are projected to decline due to decreasing overall snow depths. Overall, the profitability analysis of skiing operations reveals that price increases in ski lift tickets, slightly higher than observed in the recent past, will be inevitable in order to keep skiing operations profitable in future.     

Weather risk management in ski resorts: Financial hedging and geographical diversification

As weather volatility increases, weather risk has become a critical management issue in weather sensitive industries. This study uses ski resorts as an example to examine two promising weather risk management strategies: geographical diversification and financial hedging. The empirical analysis results suggest that financial hedging might be a more effective strategy for ski conglomerates. Guidelines for ski conglomerates to achieve better weather risk management outcomes are provided based on simulating the interactions between geographical diversification and financial hedging. Although based on ski resorts and snowfall risk, the methodology is also applicable to other weather sensitive hospitality businesses.     

Impacts of Climate Change on Winter Tourism in the Swiss Alps

This paper examines the impacts of three consecutive snow-deficient winters at the end of the 1980s on the winter tourism industry in Switzerland. It is shown that ski areas in lower areas suffered severe consequences. Ski areas at higher altitudes (in particular glacier ski resorts) on the other hand increased their transport figures and therefore profited from the lack of snow in lower areas. The snow-reliability of all Swiss ski fields under current climate conditions and under a 2"C warming are investigated. Under current climate conditions 85% of all Swiss ski areas are snow-reliable. This number would drop to 63% if temperatures were to rise by 2"C. This is likely to threaten the regionally balanced economic growth which winter tourism has provided. Possible strategies for the winter tourism industry to adopt if climate change occurs are presented.     

Using ski industry response to climatic variability to assess climate change risk: An analogue study in Eastern Canada

To accurately characterize the ski industry's risk to future climate change and varied quality of snow conditions, it is important to assess how the industry has managed and adapted to contemporary anomalously warm ski seasons. This is the first temporal climate change analogue study to use higher resolution daily performance data at the individual ski area scale, including reported snow quality, ski lift operations, slope openings, and water usage for snowmaking. The record warm winter of 2011–2012 in the Ontario ski tourism market (Eastern Canada) is representative of projected future average winter conditions under a mid-century, high greenhouse gas emissions scenario (RCP 8.5), which was compared to the 2010–2011 season which was climatically normal (for the 1981–2010 period). Supply-side impacts across the 17 ski areas during the analogue winter included a total average decrease in the ski season length (−17% days), operating ski lifts (−3%), skiable terrain (−9%), reduced snow quality (e.g., -46% days with packed powder), snowmaking days (−18%), and an increase in water usage for snowmaking (e.g., +300% in December). Demand-side impacts include a 10% decrease in overall skier visits, with a resort size-correlation (small −20%, intermediate −14%, large −8%). With reduced operational ski terrain and more frequent marginal snow conditions, visitor experience is adversely affected more frequently. Collectively, these findings identify differential impacts in the ski tourism market and can assist ski area managers, communities, investors and governments with developing climate change adaptation plans.     

An analysis of snow options for ski resort establishments

This study proposes a pricing method for put options on snow level for tourism establishments operating in Palandoken ski resort in the east of Turkey. In the calculation of put prices historical densities and Edgeworth adjusted densities methods together with Alaton, Djehiche, and Stillberger (2002) method have been applied. The findings show that there may be significant differences in the prices calculated by the three different methods, hence enabling both parties, i.e. buyers and sellers, with bases in the negotiation process. As the study is primarily aimed at providing a framework for pricing put options on snow levels in general, it is expected that it would be of use not only for this particular ski resort but also for various ski resorts in the world.     

西北五省滑雪场空间分异特征及其影响因素研究

西北五省区冰雪资源丰富、冰雪运动历史悠久、冰雪文化厚重,具备优越的冰雪旅游资源条件和发展基础。本文以2019年西北五省区125个滑雪场为研究对象,运用最邻近指数、核密度、空间自相关、热点分析和不均衡指数等方法,分析滑雪场空间布局分异及其影响因素。研究表明：（1）西北五省区滑雪场呈“双核心、集聚化”的空间格局特性,2个高密度区域分别为陕西中部和新疆北部地区;空间自相关性较明显,冷热点分布呈现“西北和东南热,中部区域较冷”的非随机性分布特点。（2）西北五省区滑雪场分布受多种因素影响,供给维度的核心影响因素是冰雪资源禀赋条件、交通可达性基础,消费维度的核心影响因素是社会经济发展水平、城市辐射与消费市场。据此建议西北五省区应以中国冰雪旅游新发展极为战略目标,构建“多点连片”空间发展结构,放大核心资源综合利用效率,建造多要素融合发展新模式,强化区域协作与联动发展,塑造国际化冰雪旅游品牌。     

全球滑雪产业发展时空演化特征

全球滑雪产业呈现快速发展和空间格局不均衡的总体特征。本文综合运用空间分析和统计方法,基于滑雪总人次、滑雪场数量、滑雪场提升设备、冬奥会举办地4个表征性指标,进行全球滑雪产业时空演化分析。结果表明：欧洲阿尔卑斯地区仍为全球滑雪产业的主要集聚区,其次美洲和东亚发展迅速;全球滑雪场提升设备水平整体呈现不断优化趋势;冬奥会对全球滑雪产业发展的影响明显,冬奥会举办地由核心区域西欧向东亚移动;新冠疫情对全球滑雪产业产生了一定冲击,2020年全球滑雪总人次较2019年下降17.1%。以北京2022年冬奥会为契机,中国实现“三亿人参与冰雪运动”、建设国家级滑雪旅游度假地、积极筹备冬奥会迎接各国参赛等举措,将有效缓解新冠疫情对全球滑雪产业的负面影响,促进全球滑雪产业的可持续高质量发展,加速东亚地区成为全球滑雪产业的增长极。     

中国滑雪旅游网络关注度评估及后疫情时期复苏对策——以四大滑雪区域为例

2022年冬奥会的成功申办,以及推进三亿人参与冰雪运动系列政策的相继出台,中国冰雪旅游迎来快速发展的时代契机,冰雪运动在全国广泛普及,冰雪旅游大众关注度迅速提升。本文以中国四大滑雪场集聚区为研究对象,基于新浪微博2015—2021年滑雪旅游网络数据,构建滑雪旅游网络关注度评估系统,定量评估疫情前后中国滑雪旅游网络关注度的时空演变特征。研究发现：（1）全国滑雪旅游网络关注度自2017年迅速提升、季节性特征明显、崇礼-北京领先全国,关注度空间结构由“局部多中心”转变为“组团式”集群化发展,高关注度滑雪场在崇礼-北京与吉林聚集;（2）疫情前后中国滑雪旅游网络关注度表现出滑雪旺季时长缩短、关注度迅速下降、新疆和吉林复苏显著、滑雪大区率先关注等特点;（3）后疫情时期叠加冬奥效应将成为影响滑雪旅游关注度复苏的热点事件,崇礼-北京、东北、西北将成为滑雪旅游率先复苏的热点区域,短期接待服务将成为助力产业复苏的投资热点,提供针对性的配套服务将成为滑雪场服务水平优化提升的热点方向;（4）提出开创全国冰雪旅游大发展新局面,构建以崇礼-北京为中心、以东北和西北为两翼的中国滑雪旅游“雁阵”发展格局,优先推出新疆、河北、黑龙江的定向政策,增强滑雪旅游短期接待能力,提供针对性配套服务等复苏对策。研究结论将为后疫情时期,促进滑雪旅游快速复苏提供科技支撑及决策依据,并为中国冰雪产业的绿色可持续发展,提供借鉴参考。     

Changes in demand for tourism with climate change: a case study of visitation patterns to six ski resorts in Australia

Tourism in ski resorts depends on snow cover which is expected to decline with climate change. This paper explores hypotheses about demand side responses to climatic change by analyzing patterns of visitation in recent years with differing snow cover. Snow cover and visitation patterns to six resorts which differ in altitude and size in Victoria, Australia, were compared between a slightly warm and much drier year (2006, +0.6°C and ?50% precipitation to longer-term averages) to a more typical year (2007) and to nine earlier years. Snowmaking partly offset declines in natural snow cover in 2006, although there were still fewer days with snow on the ground. The number of visitor days was much lower in 2006 than the previous nine years for the three lowest-altitude resorts (?69%), while it actually increased (+10%) in the highest altitude resort where there were fewer visitors (?17%), but they stayed longer. Snowmaking is already critical for ski resorts in low snow years. With warmer conditions, lower-altitude resorts may not receive enough income due to reduced visitation to offset snowmaking costs, while higher-altitude resorts may have a short-term gain, but become uneconomical in the longer term.     

俄罗斯环贝加尔湖滑雪旅游区竞争力评价研究

俄罗斯是冰雪运动大国,滑雪旅游活动在俄罗斯拥有悠久的历史。俄罗斯的环贝加尔湖地域区位优势明显,自然资源丰富多样,地貌类型独特,滑雪旅游已经成为该区域冬季最具吸引力的旅游项目。本文以俄罗斯环贝加尔湖五大滑雪旅游区为研究对象,建立冰雪旅游区综合竞争力评价指标体系及定量评估模型,科学评估环贝加尔湖冰雪旅游区综合竞争力水平。研究发现：（1）索博利纳亚（Соболиная）滑雪旅游区的竞争力优良,比奇亚（Бычья）和伊斯特兰（Истлэнд）滑雪旅游区竞争力中等,达万（Даван）和马迈（Мамай）滑雪旅游区竞争力薄弱,区域自然资源和基础设施建设是影响综合竞争力评价水平的关键要素;（2）根据评估结果提出以索博利纳亚滑雪旅游区为核心,打造国际绿色、低碳冰雪旅游示范区及中蒙俄经济走廊国际冰雪旅游特区等发展对策。研究结论可为环贝加尔湖冰雪旅游产业综合竞争力提升和区域冰雪旅游高质量发展提供决策依据,为中国冰雪旅游发展模式完善和中俄冰雪旅游产业跨境国际合作提供借鉴参考和科技支撑。     

Perceptions of climate change impacts,adaptation and limits to adaption in the Australian Alps: the ski-tourism industry and key stakeholders

This paper explores perceptions of ski-tourism representatives and other regional stakeholders about climate change impacts, limits to tourism development and adaptation strategies in the Australian Alps. This area faces rising temperatures, declining rain and snow falls, and shorter skiing seasons. Open-ended interviews examined the perceptions, plans and attitudes of the ski industry and those of conservation managers, local government officials and Australian researchers into tourism and/or climate change effects in the Australian Alps. All interviewees accepted climate change was a reality; several, however, questioned the worst-case scenarios. The major tourism-related adaptation strategies were snowmaking and diversifying to year-round tourism; the success of these strategies will vary according to individual resorts’ snowmaking capacity and potential summer tourism revenue. Currently non-snow-based tourism revenue is worth only approximately 30% of winter revenue. Social resistance to increased water and electricity use for snowmaking emerged as an important issue. Competition for water, including the needs of ecosystems, agriculture and fire protection in this summer-fire-prone region, and fire management issues, is a key concern. Current conflicts between the ski industry and other stakeholders over climate change adaptation call for a collaborative adaptation and change policy within the Australian Alps.     

A dynamic panel data analysis of snow depth and winter tourism

This paper analyses the relationship between the number of overnight stays and different measures of snow depth based on panel data covering 28 Austrian ski resorts for the period 1986/87–2005/06. Using the dynamic heterogeneous panel data technique of Pesaran, Shin, and Smith (1999), we found a long-run relationship between the number of overnight stays, amount of snow depth, weighted real GDP per capita of the major countries of visitor origin, and price index of accommodation services. The long-run elasticity of overnight stays with respect to snow depth was 0.10. However, for high-elevation resorts the evolution of the number of overnight stays was independent of variations in snow depth. Furthermore, the long-run elasticity of the number of overnight stays with respect to weighted real GDP per capita of the country's visitors was much greater for high-elevation resorts than for low-elevation resorts. Finally, early Easter holidays were significantly and positively related to winter tourism demand.     

A survival analysis of ski lift companies

This article investigates the factors influencing the survival of 244 ski lift operators in Austria over the period 1995–2011. Both Cox proportional hazard and competing risk models with time-varying covariates are utilized to distinguish between ski lift operators that temporarily suspended operations (e.g. due to insolvency) and those that permanently stopped their service. The results show that early adoption of snowmaking facilities led to a significantly lower risk of failure. Introducing snowmaking at later periods (i.e. from 2000 onwards) did not have a significant impact. Size, elevation of the ski areas, local competition, and regional effects also play a significant role in the survival of ski areas, but these factors cannot explain temporary failures. Surprisingly, the probability of permanent exits and temporary failures is independent of variations in snow depth at the nearest weather station. A lack of accommodation capacity and economic recessions lead to a higher risk of both types of failures.     

Behavioural adaptation to climate change among winter alpine tourists: an analysis of tourist motivations and leisure substitutability

Understanding market responses to climate change impacts has important implications for the sustainability of Australia's winter tourism destinations. Utilising a framework incorporating push–pull tourist motivations and the theory of leisure substitutability, this study sought to explore how winter tourists in Australia will adapt to changes in snow cover in Australia's alpine regions under future climate change scenarios. The results of a questionnaire completed by 231 respondents indicated that tourist motivations were related to behavioural adaptation, and that there is a general preference among the current winter market for spatial substitution in the event of poor snow. Those motivated by recreation specialisation or snow-related attributes were likely to opt for spatial substitution, while tourists motivated by self-expression and après ski activities displayed resilience to poor snow conditions. The results demonstrate a clear division between leisure-driven tourists who valued participation in sport, and experience-driven tourists, who displayed higher resilience to reduced snow under projected climate change scenarios. These results have practical implications for winter tourism destinations, both in terms of targeting experience-driven tourists in the case of reduced snow as well as the longer term sustainability and viability of winter tourism destinations.     

基于扎根理论的滑雪旅游度假区经营要素与理念识别

随着国民消费的升级,滑雪度假已然成为冬季旅游的消费新热点。经营要素与经营理念是旅游目的地成功发展的必备基础。为更好地提升我国滑雪旅游度假区的竞争力,本文通过对来自6个世界冰雪强国的11名旅游部门及滑雪企业负责人的访谈,运用扎根理论与内容分析法,从供给侧的角度识别出滑雪旅游度假区成功经营的基础要素与核心竞争力要素,以及人才专业性、体验性、异质化开发、持续创新、绿色发展五大经营理念。据此建议我国滑雪旅游度假区高质量发展需从地方感营造、游客体验、市场培育、生态保护等方面入手,来完善经营要素体系,提升市场竞争力。     

Can the North American ski industry attain climate resiliency? A modified Delphi survey on transformations towards sustainable tourism

As global temperatures increase, does accelerating climate change represent an existential crisis or a manageable challenge for the ski industry? Despite considerable evidence demonstrating the global ski industry is in the early stages of a climate-induced transition, global research on ski industry stakeholder perspectives shows varied levels of climate risk awareness, a focus on future vulnerability, and limited engagement in adaptation. Within North America, research has focussed on the physical climatic impacts to ski operations and possible skier responses, yet there lacks insight into industry perceptions on current and future climate vulnerability. This study fills this important knowledge gap using a Delphi survey to engage 52 leaders from across the continent in a dialogue on strategic climate responsiveness. Results demonstrate North American ski industry leaders’ climate risk perceptions range widely, and opinions diverge over if or how to respond at both an industry and destination scale. Simultaneously, industry experts believe mountain tourists increasingly value nature-based activities, place-bound products, and corporate responsibility. Analysing industry leaders’ responses through Enlightened Stakeholder theory highlights how aligning supply-side environmental management with demand-side tourist experiences may create opportunities for new partnerships, innovations, policies, and strategies needed to achieve climate-resilient and sustainable futures.     

Effects of within-industry diversification and related diversification strategies on firm performance

The major objective of this study was to investigate the effects of within-industry diversification and related diversification on short and long-run firm performance in the restaurant industry. Accordingly, this study decomposed Jacquemin and Berry's (1979) traditional related diversification entropy into within-industry diversification entropy and pure related diversification entropy. Further, this study examined the interaction effect of within-industry and related diversification strategies on firm performance. The results of this study suggested that in the short-run within-industry diversification strategies have a negative impact on firm profitability but no significant effect on sales growth. However, the long-run effect of within-industry diversification was significantly positive in terms of profitability but not sales growth. This study also showed that related diversification strategies had a positive and significant effect on profitability in the short-run, which turned negative and significant in the long-run. Further, the interaction model indicated that when the two strategies are simultaneously carried out synergy is quickly realized because efficiency is enhanced. A more detailed discussion of the results is provided in the main body of this paper.     

Future climate change risk in the US Midwestern ski industry

Climate change is an evolving business reality in the ski industry, with recent trends toward shorter ski seasons and emerging climate risk disclosure requirements. Climate change impacts under low- to high-emission futures are examined at 99 ski areas in the American Midwest market with snowmaking. Mid-century season losses range from −25% in a low-emission scenario (SSP245), to −29% under moderate-emissions (SSP370), and − 38% with high-emissions (SSP585). Depending on demand response, utilization intensity could increase between 23 and 40% from the current 4.8 skiers/per acre-day with implications for crowding and visitor experience at ski areas still in operation. Highlighting the importance of low-emission futures, by late-century, transformational impacts in high-emission scenarios would largely eliminate this regional market. The results are compared with previous studies that neglected snowmaking as a climate risk management strategy and thereby substantially overestimated the impact of mid-century and low-emission scenarios.     

Conjoint Analysis of Downhill Skiers Used to Improve Data Collection for Market Segmentation

A review of academic and government sources suggested that six key attributes of ski resort attractiveness were: variety of runs, snow conditions, value for money, lift lines, staff friendliness and access to home. As part of a larger study in Victoria, B.C., Canada, a sample of 100 skiers completed personal interviews in which they were asked to rank order 29 resort profiles in terms of preference. Seventy skiers ranked the profiles for both short trips and long trips, with an additional 18 skiers evaluating short trips (total = 88 skiers), and an additional 12 skiers evaluating short trips (total = 82 skiers). Using conjoint analysis, the relative importance of the six attributes to ski resort choice was computed for both scenarios. Skiers were clustered, using these importance values from conjoint analysis. They were also grouped using demographic data, information on skier ability and motivation. Analysis of variance was used to test for significant differences between the groupings and analyse the validity and usefulness of the segmentation criteria.     

Have restaurant firms been using right recession turnaround strategies?: Evaluating with propensity score measure

Among the diverse strategies that restaurants use in recessions, some studies have shown that strategies that increase advertising, profit margins, or asset turnover have yielded promising results in terms of firm performance. However, the success of these turnaround strategies might be due to the health or size of a firm rather than the implementation of these strategies. Therefore, this study empirically tested this question utilizing the propensity score measure (PSM) due to concerns with selection bias across restaurant segments. The results showed significant improvements in revenue for limited-service and franchise restaurants when aggressive advertising was used but no improvements in profitability. The profit margin strategy had no impact on revenue but affected profitability and stock returns positively for all segments. Finally, the asset turnover strategy had adverse effects on revenue the year after a recession for all segments. These mixed results suggest that managers need to be cautious when implementing recession turnaround strategies.