Volume: 14  Number: 4  Page: 376–398  doi:10.2167/jost550.0

Climate Change and the Sustainability of Ski-based Tourism in Eastern North America: A Reassessment

Daniel Scotta, Geoff McBoylea, Alanna Minoguea and Brian Millsb aFaculty of Environmental Studies, University of Waterloo, Canada and bAdaptation and Impacts Research Group, Meteorological Service of Canada, at the University of Waterloo, Canada

The sustainability of skiing tourism has been repeatedly identified as vulnerable to global climate change. Earlier research, however, did not fully consider snowmaking as an adaptation strategy, which is integral to the ski industry in eastern North America. This study examines how it reduces the vulnerability of ski areas to climate change in six study areas by developing a model to assess the impact of climate change on season length, probability of operations during critical tourism periods, snowmaking costs, and water requirements. It suggests that in the 2020s, even the warmest climate change scenario poses only a minor risk to four of the six ski areas. The reassessment for the 2050s period found that only the warmest scenario would jeopardise the sustainability of three of the ski areas examined. The confluence of climatic changes and other non-climate business factors will advantage certain ski areas and likely result in further contraction and consolidation in this regional ski market.

Keywords: Canada, climate change, skiing, United States, winter tourism

© 2006 D. Scott et al.

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