Journal of Sustainable Tourism
Editors: Bill Bramwell (Sheffield Hallam University) and Bernard Lane (Visiting Research Fellow, Sheffield Hallam University)
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Volume: 7 Number: 2 Page: 97–107
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High Impact Tourism: A Suitable Component of Sustainable Policy? The Case of Downhill Skiing Development at Cairngorm, Scotland
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Andrew Holden
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The development of tourism in mountain areas can have profound influences on both the local economy and physical environment. One type of tourism activity which has aroused controversy because ofits negative
consequences for the landscape is downhill skiing. As the concept of sustainability becomes increasingly influential in policy making, the future of downhill skiing in mountain areas can be viewed as uncertain.
However, the extent to which policy will shift from an anthropocentric bias towards a more ecocentric approach is uncertain. One mountainous area that has recently developed a sustainable management strategy
is the Cairngorms area of the Scottish Highlands. The development of downhill skiing in this area is highly contentious owing to the uniqueness of the physical environment. Using the case study and different
perspectives on sustainability, the role of downhill skiing is evaluated as part of a sustainable policy for mountain areas.
© Channel View Publications 1998
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