Classifying climate change adaptation measures for ski areas and ski lifts – The case of Bavaria, Germany

Abstract

Ski tourism is facing increasing challenges due to climate change and adapting to these changes is particularly imperative for ski areas at lower altitudes. With snowmaking as the primary adaptation for ski areas, knowledge on alternative strategies and their effectiveness to address future climate risks is limited. Furthermore, it remains unclear to what extent, and by which types of ski areas, these alternatives are implemented, and what factors drive or hinder their adoption. To address these research gaps on transformational adaptation of ski areas, we employ a mixed-method approach, integrating quantitative survey data (n = 83) and qualitative interview insights (interviews with seven ski area operators) on the case of ski areas and ski lifts in Bavaria (southern Germany). We develop a framework to categorise adaptation measures according to their depth of intervention from inaction to transformation, assess their current implementation status, and group 240 Bavarian ski areas into five distinct clusters.

Our findings reveal differences among ski area clusters regarding implemented and planned adaptation measures. The clusters comprising smaller, snow-unreliable ski areas exhibit a significant proportion of ski areas with little to no adaptation measures. However, interview insights demonstrate that their unique organisational structures may protect them from severe climate-induced losses, which the literature identifies as an expected consequence of inaction in response to climate change. In contrast, for larger, more snow-reliable ski areas in Bavaria, we observed a relatively strong reliance on coping measures and, unlike findings from other studies, a moderate to strong implementation of transformative adaptations, such as product diversification and year-round operation. Our paper contributes to the literature by integrating the concept of transformation from climate change research to research on ski areas, thereby conceptualising climate change adaptation measures and their potential capacity to address future climate change risks.

Management implications

Considering the urgent need for climate adaptation in Bavaria's low-altitude ski areas, this paper highlights the heterogeneity of the region's ski areas and ski lifts, underscoring significant variations in their size and climatic conditions. By introducing a framework for categorising adaptation measures, it demonstrates that adaptation measures for ski infrastructure vary in how much they modify existing systems.

The analysis of currently implemented or planned adaptation measures among Bavarian ski areas and ski lifts reveals significant differences between the surveyed clusters regarding the types and extent of adaptation efforts. Understanding the diversity of ski infrastructure in Bavaria, the varying levels of intervention associated with different adaptation options, as well as the empirical analysis of the status quo of climate change adaptation in Bavarian ski areas and ski lifts provides ski area managers and other practitioners with a more nuanced perspective. This enables them to make informed strategic decisions regarding adaptation options and to act from a position of strength and knowledge, rather than out of necessity.