Untz untz, nice to meet you! You've been working on the subject of mountain resorts for a long time, as far back as 2005. How has the subject evolved over the past 20 years?
Yoann: By the 2000s, resorts located at low altitudes, around 1,000 meters, were already experiencing major problems with snow cover and the impact of climate change on these territories even then. At the time, the solution was to diversify activities. We had to think about other things than downhill skiing. But in reality, it wasn't so easy to think of other types of activities, and this created enormous tensions, as the areas were very much structured around downhill skiing, which for a long time was and continues to be a major financial windfall.
How did the resorts go about reorienting themselves?
Yoann: There were different cases. For example, I studied the Chartreuse, and in particular the plateau des Petites Roches near Grenoble. They had another tourist attraction, in particular the vol libre, because Saint-Hilaire-du-Touvet has been a big spot for paragliding and hang-gliding since the late 70s. They have been able to reorientate their business around this activity. But this remains a special case.
"Some Chartreuse resorts have made a successful transition thanks to their diversification into other activities"
Can you give us an example of a resort that has made a successful metamorphosis?
Yoann: Some areas, those that are not mono-activities, have managed to diversify more easily because they already had another flagship and visible activity established on their territory. This made it easier for them to switch to a 4-season activity. For example, the Col-du-Coc ski resort, the highest road pass in the Chartreuse Massif, was already closed in 2005. Local groups wanted to relaunch the resort, but without sufficient budgets and snow cover, it was closed for good. The lifts were dismantled. But the area remained attractive for other activities such as hiking, mountain biking, climbing and paragliding. It's all this diversification that has eased the transition.
What are the current challenges for medium- and high-altitude resorts?
Yoann: The solution often thought of has been technosolutionnism, i.e. relying on technological solutions such as artificial snow. The Rhône-Alpes-Auvergne region has invested heavily in this approach with its Neige2 plan. But today, this is becoming complicated, as current temperatures make artificial snowmaking difficult, even for resorts located between 1,500 and 2,000 meters. Above all, there has been a change of opinion among local populations, who are increasingly opposed to the artificialization of the mountains. In the Alps, for example, local players and collectives are fighting to stop this excessive exploitation of the mountains.
Exactly. Who are these collectives and what do they stand for?
Yoann : These collectives are not only to be found in the mountains. They are similar to those who oppose projects such as wind turbines. What's new is the emergence of numerous local collectives to every major development project in the mountains, to defend other types of tourism and highlight the difficulties of Alpine sites. These collectives are rapidly taking shape, carrying out militant actions that are visible on social networks, on the Internet and in the media. This dynamic has been in full expansion for the past 5-6 years.
"In the mountains, hope of a revival could come from summer tourism"
How might this evolve over the next few years? Is there hope for these tourism players?
Yoann: Hope could come from summer tourism, which is doing well. After Covid, there was a craze for local tourism and nature sports, but not necessarily skiing. This could encourage mountain players to exploit their attractive potential for activities other than downhill skiing. We also need to rethink facilities for summer tourism, making them less costly and more environmentally friendly.
"We can no longer develop a tourism offer aimed solely at tourists from very far away"
How should tourism players modify their activity?
Yohann: One solution could be to become aware of the potential of territories for other periods of the year, where very little investment has been made. Mountain resorts have often developed summer tourism by copying the winter model, exploiting ski lifts for downhill mountain biking or access to refuges. It would be wiser to think of gentler developments, less costly for public finances and more ecological, by organizing events and creating hiking and mountain biking loops in a different way. Perhaps the players aren't sufficiently committed to this.
And what about the public authorities, who you say are pumping a lot of money into today's resorts and alpine skiing, how can they support this transition?
Yoann: The main challenge is to create forums for debate and exchange on what the players want for their territory. These participative bodies could provide a forum for the expression of contradictory points of view, which don't always exist.
What's more, having worked extensively on coastal and hiking areas, I've observed that territories often compete with each other to increase their visibility with territorial marketing strategies. This is not the right approach. It would be wiser to think of the complementarity of territories.
Another important point is the development of local tourism, which is a real challenge for decarbonized tourism. We can no longer develop a tourism offering aimed solely at tourists from very far away. We need to get all the players around the table and think about coherent regional strategies. The post-Covid period has shown that local tourism can work, but it requires consultation and strategic planning.
" alpine skiing as we knew it is in decline and is being transformed into luxury sports tourism"
But are the French ready to ski less?
Yohann: I don't know if they are ready, but it's a sociological reality. After that, you have to bear in mind that less than 10% of French people go skiing. Skiing activity is being refocused around the major resorts, and the price of ski passes has almost doubled! The alpine ski industry as we knew it is in decline, and is being transformed into a luxury sports tourism, a niche tourism. Many people are turning away from skiing because they can no longer afford to practice.
"Hiking in the mountains is a notable alternative*"***
What activities are people turning to then?
Yohann: Hiking is a notable alternative. During the Covid period, there was a huge spike in interest in hiking. It's already the number one physical activity in France. And the term "randonnée" covers a wide range of activities, from short walks to trekking or even trail. It reaches a very wide and varied public, thanks in particular to digital tools and applications, which have made it more accessible and family-friendly. Long-distance trails such as the GR5, the GR20 and the Stevenson Trail are well identified and very popular.
But how can we prevent these trails from being subjected to overtourism?
Yohann: It's a complex issue. We need to manage visitor flows to avoid negative impacts on the environment and conflicts of use. Strategies can include channelling trails, managing sensitive areas and raising public awareness of environmentally-friendly practices.
