Alpine tourists put money into the local economy by spending in resort shops, ski schools, hotels and restaurants. Before tourism arrived, the lower the slopes of the Alps were a farming area that provided few jobs. Now a thriving economy exists.
Large amounts of water and energy are needed to keep the Alpine resort running, and for making artificial snow. The Olympic bobsleigh run in La Plange uses millions of gallons of water to maintain its icy surface.
Tourism also provides jobs and a demand for services that doesn’t stop when the snow melts. In the summer, outdoor enthusiasts like walkers, sightseers and nature lovers ensure that the demand for services continues.
Large amounts of water and energy are needed to keep the Alpine resort running, and for making artificial snow. The Olympic bobsleigh run in La Plange uses millions of gallons of water to maintain its icy surface.
Forest are cleared to make room for more tourist accommodation or ski slopes, and this can lead soil erosion and changes in the water cycle.
Large amounts of water and energy are needed to keep the Alpine resort running, and for making artificial snow. The Olympic bobsleigh run in La Plange uses millions of gallons of water to maintain its icy surface.
The traditional way of life has changed, and there has been a decline in local crafts and skills as a result of tourism.
Alpine vegetation is destroyed by the building of access roads and other infrastructure.
Skiing over thin snow can damage the fragile vegetation underneath and leave scars of bare earth in the summer.
Many local young people now stay in their villages when they leave education, rather than migrating to urban centres. This is because tourism provides them with employment – but not just in shops and hotels. For example, skilled people like engineers are needed to keep equipment like ski lefts working.
An increase in vehicles, such as transfer coaches from airports, lead to more air pollution. This pollution often becomes trapped in the alpine valleys, which affects the villages – and is thought to be main cause of damage to trees.
