Tourism diversification paths in ski mid-mountain territories: any transformations?

Abstract

ABSTRACT In the context of adapting to global changes, the diversification of the tourist offer seems to be a solution for the mid-mountain areas, which are structured around and dependent on ski tourism. However, it remains unclear how tourism diversification occurs, what forms it can take and what it produces at a territorial scale. In this study, we apply a theory of regional diversification to the case of tourism in order to examine tourism diversification paths. We base our analysis on qualitative data collected on two French study areas: the intercommunities of the massif du Sancy and of the Haut-Chablais. Our results show a pattern in tourism diversification paths, following three steps that can lead to the abandonment of the perimeter of the ski resort. However, among the different types of tourism diversification trajectories, only a saltation form of tourism diversification can lead to the establishment of a larger and more diversified tourism system. Our findings also show that several types of tourism diversification paths can coexist at a territorial scale.