Global Mountain Tourism
Current and future conditions
Table of contents
INTRODUCTION
SUMMER MOUNTAIN TOURISM STATISTICS
WINTER MOUNTAIN TOURISM STATISTICS
GLOBAL WARMING
FUTURE GOALS FOR MOUNTAIN TOURISM
CONCLUSIONS
Introduction
•Tourism is the fastest growing industry in the world, increasing from 25 million
international arrivals in 1950 to 842 million in 2006, a more than 30-fold increase, with
international arrivals expected to double to 1.5 billion by 2020
•It is one of the world’s largest industries, employing approximately 235 million people
globally and generating over 9.2% of world’s gross domestic product.
•Mountains are important assets for the tourism industry. They take up an estimated
share of 15-20% of the global tourism market, generating between 100 and 140 billion
US$ per year.
•Mountains have been a source of wonder and inspiration for human societies and
cultures since time immemorial. The elements that attract people to mountains – clean
air, diverse landscapes, rich biodiversity, unique cultures and variety of recreational
activities – are under threat, partly because of poorly managed and non-sustainable
tourism.
Summer Mountain Tourism Statistics
• Mountain tourism share of global tourism market is: 15-20%
• Different summer activities: hiking, biking, kayaking…
• The market for Mountain tourism aventure is nowhere near saturation point.
There is a growing demand for summer activities.
• It is estimated that more than 50 million people visit mountains each year.
(Mountain Partnership 2008)
Winter Mountain Tourism Statistics
• 2100 Ski Resorts around the world with 400 millions skier
days each year
• Europe: 200 millions skier days
• North america: 90 millions skier days
Development
2011/2012
Change in %
• North America
51 millions
15.8 %
• Austria
50 millions
2.3%
• Switzerland
24.8 millions
4.6%
• France
55.3 millions
4%
Winter Mountain Tourism Statistic
• Fast growing countries: Eastern Europe; Bulgaria,
Poland and Russia, Winter Olympics 2014 in Sochi
Visited by whom ?
• Andorra
95% foreign visitors
• Austria
60% foreign visitors
• Switzerland
50% foreign visitors
• USA
6% foreign visitors
Global Warming
Greenhouse gases:
• + means of transport
• - plants
• = + CO2
Albedo:
• 1 = white
• 0 = black
• Effect on artic
Future Goals for Mountain Tourism
• Keep the authenticity of the mountains
• Environmental protection
• Decrease the seasonal effect
• Diversification of the offer
Conclusions
• The demand for mountain tourism activities: trekking, hiking, camping, mountaineering, rock
climbing, mountain biking, wildlife viewing, and other forms is ever increasing leading to the rapid
expansion of the mountain tourism adventure and recreation market.
•The investment, operational and managerial decisions of tour operators, other tourism
professionals and the wider industry are helping to determine the level of both negative and positive
impacts of tourism in mountain environments.
•It is vital to work with this sector to develop and promote sustainable tourism practices. In fact,
Agenda 21 of the UN Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) stated that the fate
of mountains may affect more than half of the world’s population and acknowledged mountain
tourism as a critical component in sustainable mountain development and conservation (UNDESA
1992).