Climate Change Vulnerability of the Vermont Ski Tourism Industry (USA)

Abstract

Climate change represents one of the most significant challenges to humanity in the 21st century and is anticipated to have major consequences for the climate‐sensitive winter sports tourism sector. This study examined the vulnerability of Vermont's (US A) 18 ski areas. Under the six climate change scenarios examined, shortened ski seasons and increased snowmaking requirements were projected at all ski areas. Using two broad economic risk criteria (100‐day ski season, probability of being operational for the Christmas/New Year holiday period), only the two low‐elevation ski areas (Cochran and Suicide Six) were considered highly vulnerable to climate change. Consequently, it is not the entire Vermont ski tourism industry that is at risk to climate change but rather the individual low lying ski areas. The economic implications remain uncertain, but a possible outcome of a contraction of ski areas in the region is increased market share among the remaining ski areas.