and in austria: how · 11/26/2009 1 snow and skiing in austria: how to adapt to a warmer climate...
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Snow and Skiing in Austria: how to adapt to a warmer climate
Meinhard BreilingN 12th 2009Nov. 12th, 2009
Winter Tourism
• Is the single most important economy in rural A t iAustria
• About 4% of Austrian GNP
– In certain provinces like Tyrol and Salzburg much higher
– Half of rural income during winterg
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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 h i i
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Zell am See
Winterlandscape
• Winter and snow are important factors of lli l l dselling rural landscapes
• Higher value with appropriate activities
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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
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Kitzbuehel
• Is one of the oldest and most famous resorts i A t iin Austria
• Is situated in comparatively low altitude
Apres‐ski
• Places like Kitzbuehel offer cozy atmosphere after skiingcozy atmosphere after skiing – Coffeehouses
– Drinking and dining
– Amusement and nightlife
– Shopping
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Museum
• Cultural highlights are provided
…….and a little bit of culture
Old churches and historic buildings
Give the place a flair
A f li f d ld ld d lA feeling of good old world and values
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New Wooden House
• Successful winter tourism combines the best of both worlds
– Traditional styles of the pastof the past
– Modern facilities of comfortable life styles
The Ski World Cup
• Is in principle planned every year at the end ofIs 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
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The frequency of events is decisive
O f fi l f h• Out of five events at least four have to 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
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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
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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
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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 forbetter conditions for skiing, it is cooler during the night than day
• Light and other additionaladditional infrastructure is needed
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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
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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
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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 expensiveSkiing becomes more expensive– There are more foreign skiers
• Teaching how to ski– Provided extra income opportunities for locals– Requires today international language skills
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Showbusiness is Snowbusiness in Kitzbuehel
• Without snow the economy stops
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