Snow and Skiing in Austria: how to adapt to a warmer climate Meinhard Breiling Nov. 12 N 12th, 2009 2009
Winter Tourism • Is the single most important economy in rural A ti Austria • About 4% of Austrian GNP – In certain provinces like Tyrol and Salzburg much higher – Half of rural income during winter g
1
11/26/2009
Development of Winter Tourism • Requires rich societies • Enough income from tourists • Austrian rural areas serve also countries like Germany or Netherlands for tourism – About 35% domestic tourists – About 65% international tourists About 65% international tourists – “Rural” and “mountains” is also an export product in Austria
Rural
• Some 85% of all Austrian tourism is rural A i l l i hi i
2
11/26/2009
Zell am See
Winterlandscape • Winter and snow are important factors of selling rural landscapes lli ll d • Higher value with appropriate activities
3
11/26/2009
Natural Hazards • Increased with intensity of use • Even dangerous areas become frequented
Winter in lower altitudes and snow • The skiing season is getting shorter • Since 1980 major adaptation are in place
4
11/26/2009
Kitzbuehel • Is one of the oldest and most famous resorts i A ti in Austria • Is situated in comparatively low altitude
Apres‐ski
• Places like Kitzbuehel offer cozy atmosphere after skiing cozy atmosphere after skiing – Coffeehouses – Drinking and dining – Amusement and nightlife – Shopping
5
11/26/2009
Museum • Cultural highlights are provided
…….and a little bit of culture
Old churches and historic buildings Give the place a flair A f li A feeling of good old world and values f d ld ld d l
6
11/26/2009
New Wooden House • Successful winter tourism combines the best of both worlds – Traditional styles of the past of the past – Modern facilities of comfortable life styles
The Ski World Cup • Is Is in principle planned every year at the end of in principle planned every year at the end of January, if it is not too warm • This happened last time in 2007due to lack of snow
7
11/26/2009
The frequency of events is decisive
• O Out of five events at least four have to f fi l f h be realized (80%). • So far eight events had to be cancelled due to lack of snow – This is still less than 20% but more than 10% – Without adaptation and artificial snow
Just watching • Is a good business – Tickets are over20 Euro – To see… – ….and to be seen
8
11/26/2009
Heroes of past get a monument • Kitzbuehel has winter tourism for more than 100 years – First observed skiers in 1892 – Skiing association founded in 1902 – First international races 1930/31 – First cancelling of race due to lack of snow – First world cup races 1966/67 – 1993 decision to entirely equip racing area with snow making facilities – Adaptation not enough for seasons 2005 and 2007
The Change • Previously, nature did most of the job for a good skiing experience • Today the local people have to help a lot if they want to remain Today the local people have to help a lot if they want to remain successful
9
11/26/2009
Adaptation is required • Several possibilities of adaptation – Physical adaptations – Technical adaptations – Social adaptations
Map with skiarea: physical adaptation
• In case of Kitzbuehel the given altitude does not allow an escape in higher, colder parts of the area
10
11/26/2009
Physical Adaptation: adjust Gelaende • Landscape has to be modified – Large ski tracks are required – To attract many people with less skills – To allow machinery use
Social adaptation: Night skiing • Can be connected with better conditions for better conditions for skiing, it is cooler during the night than day • Light and other additional additional infrastructure is needed
11
11/26/2009
Social adaptation: winter tourism without skiing
• There do exist alternatives to snow based skiing – But only if this is not the regular case – people will no longer come in case skiing is over
Partial Pleasure
• Generally in a resort there are patches of areas suitable and non suitable for skiing
12
11/26/2009
Sophisticated machinery • Various types of machines – Hardly known outside the skiing areas – For specific problem situations
Without Hahnenkamm race just avera – So far eight times cancelled – Without adaptation measures this would have happened more often – Enormous losses for the resort
– Image as save ski‐resort has to be maintained
13
11/26/2009
Proportion skiers and ski area
– To find balance between skiers and ski areas • Not easy to assess • Climate dependent • Market dependent
Skiing as activity • Local component becomes less pronounced – Skiing becomes more expensive Skiing becomes more expensive – There are more foreign skiers
• Teaching how to ski – Provided extra income opportunities for locals – Requires today international language skills
14
11/26/2009
Showbusiness is Snowbusiness in Kitzbuehel • Without snow the economy stops