Ski tourism in a warmer world: Increased adaptation and regional economic impacts in Austria |
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Institution: | 1. Institute of Geography, University of Innsbruck, Austria;2. alpS, Innsbruck, Austria;1. Department of Geography & Environmental Management, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo N2L 3G1, Canada;2. Department of Public Finance, University of Innsbruck, Innrain 52, Innsbruck, Austria;3. Faculty of Environment, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo N2L 3G1, Canada |
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Abstract: | Climate change risk has gained considerable attention within the ski industry and its investors. Several past studies have overlooked the adaptive capacity of snowmaking and within-season demand variation and therefore overestimated climate change impacts. This study of the Austrian ski market (208 ski areas) including snowmaking found impacts are substantial and spatially highly differentiated, but nonetheless manageable (season length losses of 10–16%) for the majority of ski areas until the 2050s under a high emissions pathway (RCP 8.5) or even the 2080s in a low emission pathway (RCP 4.5). The economic impacts of reduced operations are largely concentrated in regions less dependent on tourism. Preserving this sector in high-risk areas can be considered maladaptive, but may be important to maintain demand. A sustainable end-of-century future for a high proportion of Austria's ski areas is dependent on achieving the low-emission future set out in the Paris Climate Agreement. |
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Keywords: | Climate change Ski tourism Economic impacts Adaptation Destination reputation Tourism planning Mountain communities |
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