Skier demand and behavioural adaptation to climate change in the US Northeast

Abstract

Ski tourism has been identified as particularly vulnerable to climate change. Supply-side studies project shortened season length and increased snowmaking requirements, which may jeopardize revenues and increase operational costs. Demand-side impacts have received surprisingly little attention considering tourists can easily adapt their behaviour to climate variability by altering their destination (spatial substitution), frequency of participation (temporal substitution) and by changing leisure activities altogether (activity substitution). This study used a survey (n = 1167) to examine demand-side adaptation of skiers in the US Northeast to past climate conditions and hypothetical future scenarios. Findings suggest that demand is not likely to decrease proportionate to the projected decrease in supply, and future changes in participation may be similar to that seen during marginal snow seasons in the recent past. Thus, a geographical market shift (i.e. greater market share for the ski areas that remain operational) is anticipated under future climate change conditions – at least in the short term.