Sustainable Skiing - How do locals and tourists perceive sustainable development of ski tourism?

Abstract

Global warming poses major challenges for Alpine tourism and ski resorts in particular. Consequences such as shifts of seasons or technical snowmaking raise doubts about the sustainability of the industry. This study investigates the perceived economic, ecological, and socio-cultural impacts of ski tourism on the residents’ and tourist support for tourism development. The perception theory serves as a theoretical basis for this study. Following a quantitative research design, 340 local and tourist skiers in a major Tyrolean glacier ski resort were interviewed using an online survey. The results reveal that perceived ecological and socio-cultural benefits of sustainability positively affect the support for tourism development. This study could not confirm any significant differences between the perceptions of locals and tourists. The study's findings provide valuable insights into how ski resorts can more effectively communicate their sustainability efforts to locals and tourists