Summer glacier skiing amid climate change: what does production transformation mean for sustainability?

• Authors: Emmanuel Salim , Jeanne Fournier , Ephraïm Gerber , Emmanuel Fragnière , Leïla Kebir

Title variants

PL

Letnia jazda na nartach na lodowcu w obliczu zmian klimatycznych: co oznacza transformacja produkcji dla zrównoważonego rozwoju?

Abstracts

PL

Niniejszy artykuł analizuje wpływ zmian klimatu na zrównoważony rozwój letniej turystyki narciarskiej na lodowcu (SGS) w Saas-Fee w Szwajcarii. Letnia jazda na nartach na lodowcu (SGS) to niszowa działalność turystyczna, która jest szczególnie podatna na zmiany klimatu. Dowodem na to jest znaczne zmniejszenie pokrywy śnieżnej i cofanie się lodowca, które wpływają na rentowność SGS. Stosując ramy systemu wyceny, badanie analizuje związek między systemami produkcji i konsumpcji SGS oraz wpływ transformacji spowodowanych zmianami klimatu na zrównoważony rozwój. Metodologicznie, badanie wykorzystuje podejście jakościowe, integrując badania terenowe, bezpośrednie obserwacje i częściowo ustrukturyzowane wywiady z kluczowymi interesariuszami, w tym operatorami turystycznymi, władzami lokalnymi i sportowcami narciarskimi. Wyniki pokazują, że zmiany klimatyczne nasilają niedobór zasobów, wymagając zwiększonych inwestycji w infrastrukturę i modyfikując zachowania konsumentów, co z kolei wpływa na zrównoważony rozwój gospodarczy i środowiskowy tej działalności. Niezależnie od tych wyzwań, istnienie współpracy instytucjonalnej w Saas-Fee oferuje regionowi możliwość przejścia na bardziej zrównoważone praktyki. Dokument podkreśla konieczność kompleksowego podejścia do zrozumienia i nadzorowania zrównoważonego rozwoju SGS w kontekście zachodzących zmian klimatycznych.

EN

This paper examines the impact of climate change on the sustainability of summer glacier skiing (SGS) in Saas-Fee, Switzerland. Summer glacier skiing (SGS) is a niche tourism activity that is particularly vulnerable to climate change. This is evidenced by the notable reductions in snowpack and glacier retreat, which are affecting the viability of SGS. By applying the valuation system framework, the study examines the relationship between the production and consumption systems of SGS and how climate-induced transformations influence sustainability. Methodologically, the research employs a qualitative approach, integrating fieldwork, direct observations, and semistructured interviews with key stakeholders, including tourism operators, local authorities, and ski athletes. The findings demonstrate that climate change intensifies the scarcity of resources, necessitating augmented investments in infrastructure and modifying consumer behaviour, which in turn affects the economic and environmental sustainability of the activity. Notwithstanding these challenges, the existence of institutional cooperation within Saas-Fee offers the region the opportunity to transition towards more sustainable practices. The paper emphasises the necessity for a comprehensive approach to comprehend and oversee the sustainability of SGS in the context of ongoing climate change.

Keywords

EN

climate change; qualitative research; summer glacier skiing; sustainability; tourism adaptation

PL

zmiany klimatyczne; badania jakościowe; letnie narciarstwo na lodowcu; zrównoważony rozwój; adaptacja turystyki

• Publisher: Akademia Nauk Stosowanych w Raciborzu
• Journal: Eunomia – Rozwój Zrównoważony – Sustainable Development
• Year: 2024
• Issue: 2(108)
• Pages: 27-40

Dates

published

2024

Contributors

author

Emmanuel Salim

• Institute of Geogaphy and Sustainability, University of Lausanne, Sion, Switzerland
• Institute of Tourism, Hospitality and Food studies, CERTOP (UMR 5044, CNRS), University Toulouse Jean Jaurès, Toulouse, France

• https://orcid.org/0000000341829395

author

Jeanne Fournier

• Institute of Geogaphy and Sustainability, University of Lausanne, Sion, Switzerland

author

Ephraïm Gerber

• Tourism Institute, University of Applied Science Western Switzerland, Sierre, Switzerland

author

Emmanuel Fragnière

• Tourism Institute, University of Applied Science Western Switzerland, Sierre, Switzerland

• https://orcid.org/0000000153739720

author

Leïla Kebir

• Institute of Geogaphy and Sustainability, University of Lausanne, Sion, Switzerland

• https://orcid.org/0000000163699611

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Identifiers

Biblioteka Nauki

57560614