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Scientific Article details

Title Perceptions of climate change risk and sustainable adaptations in the Swedish ski industry
ID_Doc 67733
Authors Rice, H; Cohen, SA; Scott, D
Title Perceptions of climate change risk and sustainable adaptations in the Swedish ski industry
Year 2024
Published Journal Of Sustainable Tourism, 32, 2
DOI 10.1080/09669582.2022.2151858
Abstract Previous research demonstrated Northern Sweden may have a future competitive climatic advantage over the European Alps for ski tourism, yet knowledge of climate change risk perceptions, adaptation, and mitigation strategies undertaken by the Swedish ski industry remains limited. This study combined top-down ski season modelling and bottom-up semi-structured interviews with Swedish ski industry stakeholders to examine changing market dynamics, climate change risk perceptions, and current and future adaptations under the backdrop of Sweden's potential climatic advantage. Findings indicate that despite a belief of having greater climate change recognition and preparedness than other international ski regions, stakeholders were reticent to link local conditions to anthropogenic climate change. Snowmaking was the most utilised adaptation option, and consistent with other regions was not explicitly seen as a climate change adaptation rather a prudent business decision. A gap between tourists' demand for increased resort sustainability and the actions of resorts was also evident in several locations. Market dynamics are also considered as capitalising on Sweden's potential climatic advantage will likely necessitate increased aviation travel and associated emissions, a potential barrier to the country's ability to become a 'last resort' for European skiing due to Sweden's ambitious, legally binding net-zero policy target of 2045.
Author Keywords Climate change; ski industry; adaptation; mitigation; industry stakeholders; Sweden
Index Keywords Index Keywords
Document Type Other
Open Access Open Access
Source Social Science Citation Index (SSCI)
EID WOS:000897947200001
WoS Category Green & Sustainable Science & Technology; Hospitality, Leisure, Sport & Tourism
Research Area Science & Technology - Other Topics; Social Sciences - Other Topics
PDF https://doi.org/10.1080/09669582.2022.2151858
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