Abstract
AbstractOperating chairlifts at alpine ski areas during the summer to accommodate tourism and recreation activities (e.g. hiking and mountain biking) is increasing in popularity. Increasing summer use, however, may affect the ability of ski areas to sustain acceptable social conditions (e.g. crowding). In addition, little is known about encounters, crowding or acceptable use levels at ski areas during the summer. This article addresses these issues using data from surveys of summer visitors (n = 548) conducted at five separate sites in the Whistler Mountain ski area in British Columbia, Canada. Photographs and Likert‐type scales measured visitors' encounters with others, perceived crowding and acceptance of use levels. Results showed that: (i) crowding and encounters differed among the sites; (ii) visitors at the backcountry sites rated encounters as less acceptable and possessed greater agreement regarding acceptable encounter levels compared with visitors at the more accessible sites; (iii) crowding and encounters were important indicators of summer use at each site; and (iv) visitors who felt more crowded encountered more people than their normative tolerances. Explanations for these findings and implications for managers and researchers are discussed. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
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