Abstract
In the last years, Romania has made major efforts to develop the skiing areas and some important projects have been implemented in the Carpathian Mountains. This research highlights the low efficiency of ski slopes and ski areas concerning the functionality during the winter season, even though a number of investments have been made. Some examples of bad practices regarding the development of skiing infrastructure in link with the potential impact on the environment are presented. The status of ski slopes, slope conditions, and snow depth were collected daily, during the 2016–2017 and 2017–2018 winter seasons, from a Romanian website specialized in snow cover information. A statistical analysis based on the collected data has been done. The 225 ski slopes studied have been opened, on average, less than 62 days and more than 20% of them have not even been opened. Only 17.8% of the slopes complied with the “100-day rule” during the first season and 21.3% of them during the second one, which does not ensure profitability. In conclusion, too many ski slopes have been created without considering the actual snow conditions. The investors wasted capital that is unprofitable and needlessly, affecting the environmental sustainability.
Highlights
Snow, the white gold, and all the sports that are associated with it, have allowed to develop a real tourism industry, first in Western Europe and North America, today in Central and Eastern Europe and in China
We focused on the article 9(1) and (2) of this convention, which mentions that “The Parties shall take measures to promote sustainable tourism in the Carpathians, providing benefits to the local people, based on the exceptional nature, landscapes and cultural heritage of the Carpathians...”
Romania is not yet a very important destination to practice winter sports, in the last 10 years, the country has been making major efforts to develop the ski infrastructure in order to attract more visitors, even for a few hours a day
Summary
The white gold, and all the sports that are associated with it, have allowed to develop a real tourism industry, first in Western Europe and North America, today in Central and Eastern Europe and in China. Everywhere in Europe, low-altitude ski resorts, less than 1200 m, sometimes up to 500 m above sea level, go bankrupt and disappear or are in great difficulty if there are not massive investments to ensure the diversification of the activities offered to tourists. In this context, the position of public and private decision-makers is not simple, separated by the desire to develop a potential resource—and job-creating activity—and the new environmental constraints. These constraints are no longer only of a conceptual nature, but are included in the programs of the major international bodies
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
