Winter tourism and the environment in conflict: the case of Cairngorm, Scotland

Abstract

The development of downhill skiing in mountain areas has, since the 1950s been rapid, encouraged by government policy based upon an economic and social rationale. The World Tourism Organisation estimates that there are 15 to 20 million people crossing international borders to ski, representing 3–4% of the annual total of international tourist arrivals. However, as with other forms of tourism development, downhill skiing can also cause a range of negative environmental impacts or consequences. In mountain areas, where the physical environment is not robust and is slow to regenerate because of the harsh climatic conditions, downhill skiing can pose a real ecological threat. The negative consequences of ski development on mountain environments has meant that there is increasing conflict between ski developers and conservation groups. This confrontation has led to direct action against ski facilities in Vail, Colorado and in the case of Cairngorm lengthy judicial planning disputes. Yet little is understood about the attitudes of the downhill skiers to the environment they are skiing in, and little thought has been given to how this information could be used in better management of ski areas or in development strategies, to reduce the negative effects of downhill skiing. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.