Mountain Partnership

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Tourism

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Mountains are one of the world’s most important tourist destinations. Their soaring peaks and beautiful landscapes are becoming increasingly attractive as a place of escape in a stressful, urbanized world. But tourism presents both opportunities and dangers for mountain regions. Tourism revenues have become a primary source of income for many mountain communities. Yet, the influx of visitors into mountain regions poses a threat to these unique and often pristine environments. Mountain people are the stewards of mountain ecosystems, so any decision to develop tourism must be made with their involvement and agreement. Most of all, tourism must be sustainable, planned to ensure that the beauty of mountains can be enjoyed by present and future generations.

The call of the wild

More than 50 million people visit mountains each year. They are drawn to these areas by the physical beauty of alpine environments, the many forms of recreation available in mountainous terrain and the opportunities for experiencing cultural heritage in the communities found there. The clean, cool air and awe-inspiring scenery of mountain areas, combined with the unique customs, arts, crafts and culinary traditions of the communities that live there, make trips to the mountains attractive holiday options.

Sport-based tourism in particular has boomed in mountain regions over the past 30 years. It has expanded from the traditional areas of North America and the European Alps to largely untouched mountain regions, including parts of Central Asia, the Himalaya, Karakorum, Caucasus, Andes and even Antarctica. Typical mountain activities include hiking, skiing, snowboarding, climbing and birdwatching. However, extreme sports, such as bungee jumping, hydrospeeding, rafting, paragliding and canyoning are becoming increasingly popular, especially with affluent urban thrill-seekers. Another growth area for alpine tourism focuses on mountains as a source of well-being and health. An ever-increasing number of mountain tours offer opportunities for contemplation and meditation.

The tourism boom has undoubtedly brought benefits to many of the world’s mountain regions. Thanks to tourism revenues, mountain people, many of whom are economically disadvantaged, can aspire to greatly improved living standards. Mountain tourism has given young men and women the option of building a future in their home community, instead of becoming part of the rural exodus to cities. The influx of visitors has also created a market for products made by local crafts workers, as well as for produce from the land.

Yet although tourism – and mountain tourism in particular – is one of the fastest growing economic sectors in the world, it is also one of the least regulated. Short-term profits need to be balanced against long-term losses if the industry is to become a lasting source of benefit for mountain people.

A double-edged sword

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Experience has already shown that mountain tourism can have a range of damaging effects. It can degrade and stress fragile mountain ecosystems, destroying the qualities that make these environments so alluring. Mountains are among the world’s most important repositories of biodiversity, yet construction, pollution and noise all threaten this precious asset. In many of the developing world’s most beautiful mountain regions, litter and waste have emerged as key problems, as well as trees being felled to supply timber and fuelwood. The mysticism of sacred mountain sites is often diminished by the numbers of people who come from all over the world to make pilgrimages. Tourism means more transportation networks and links, which can blight the mountain environment, disrupt traditional ways of life and threaten the existence of local languages. If mountains become the world’s playgrounds, there is a risk that mountain people will lose their own cultural identity.

Counting the cost of fun in the snow

Winter sports are booming, with resorts now operating all over the world. The snow sport business has spawned a large and complex commercial network that includes hotels, shops, restaurants, cable cars and ski schools. For many isolated mountain communities, it has meant a new lease on life. But in some cases, it has also come at a high price. Building ski runs often involves destroying swathes of forest, planting pylons for chairlifts and cable cars and building roads and tunnels. In the Alps, emissions from the millions of vehicles that bring visitors to the slopes threaten the health of trees and worsen the effects of global warming. Paths and ski runs harm sensitive mountain ecosystems and disturb plant and animal life. And constructions that look acceptable under a mantle of snow can become a scar on the landscape once the winter fun is over.

How not to kill the golden goose

Tourism can provide benefits for mountain people and visitors alike if sensitively planned and managed. Often, the development of tourism in mountain areas is concentrated in the hands of outside interests, with little of the profits going to local communities. This is especially true of developing countries and emerging economies, where venture capital is in short supply.

Mountain tourism needs to be developed according to specific local conditions and cultures, an approach that will help communities gain a niche in an increasingly competitive market. Policy-makers could favour activities that build on local knowledge and traditions to ensure that tourists respect the natural and cultural diversity of the places they visit and encourage mountain people to view their home as a source of pride.

Because it is notoriously volatile, and often seasonal, the tourism industry needs to be developed as part of an overall economic development strategy, with diversification to ensure local economies do not become reliant solely on tourism revenue. Governments can help mountain communities by investing profits in programmes to ensure sustainable livelihoods for local people. Non-governnmental organizations and the private sector can also help get the tourism equation right by offering education and training in responsible tourism practices.

Ecotourism in mountains

One promising answer to the challenge of developing mountains wisely for recreation is ecotourism. As well as being the International Year of Mountains, 2002 was also the International Year of Ecotourism, and there is a strong and important link between the two. Ecotourism can help reduce poverty and hunger, a key issue in mountain areas where a high proportion of the world’s poor and food-insecure live. It also has considerable potential for strengthening communities and for protecting mountain ecosystems.

Defined by the International Ecotourism Society as “responsible travel to natural areas which conserves the environment and improves the welfare of local people,” ecotourism currently accounts for between 2 and 4 percent of global tourism. But that figure is expected to grow. This form of holidaymaking makes a point of putting something back into the area and culture being visited, in terms of revenue and financial support for conservation projects, but often also in-kind. Some tourism operators plant trees to combat desertification, collect garbage from trekking regions and ensure tourists use biodegradable wrapping on food and drink. During many eco-holidays, tourists help out with projects that protect endangered species and habitats. Handled properly, ecotourism can be a valuable tool in advancing tourism, especially for poor mountain communities in the developing world, without destroying natural resources and the environment.

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