Adaptation – Smart Altitude

Adaptation Strategies

Adaptation strategies anticipate the effects of climate change and define accurate actions to prevent or minimise the damage they can cause.

Local governments, ski-resort operators, winter tourism operators, and financial operators can implement a series of complementary measures for ensuring stability and continuity to Alpine winter tourism.

What are complementary adaptation measures?

Different stakeholders can adopt related adaptation measures

Ski Operators

Ski resorts can adopt measures of two main kinds:

Technological measures:

1) Optimize snowmaking process;
2) Shifting slopes to higher altitudes;
3) Avoid south facing slopes;
4) Increase snow shading (through tree cover along slope margins);
5) Improve weather forecasting to support programming of the ski season

Business-model measures:

1) Build ski conglomerates between low and high-altitude resorts;
2) Revenue diversification targeting new segments as natural, cultural, experiential, wellness, enogastronomic tourism;
3) Marketing by providing incentives or guarantees to overcome skiers’ reluctance to book a ski holiday because of uncertain snow conditions.

Local governments

Local governments can:

1) define long-term regional and local adaptation plans;
2) influence the level of public awareness of climate change effects;
3) provide financial support through tax breaks or subsidies on adaptation investments;
4) provide capacity building as technical support or dedicated training;
5) invest in experiential tourism.