Klimawandel, skilanglauf und tourismus in Österreich - Wahrnehmung durch skilangläufer, landschaftserlebnis und mögliche adaptionsstrategien

Adaptation research related to winter sports has so far mainly concentrated on downhill skiing, whereas cross-country skiing has remained rather unnoticed. The results of the present study show that the perceptions of climate change are similar for both sport activities, but the consequences taken are different. The results reveal a strong preference of the crosscountry skiers for natural winter landscape experiences. This is also reflected in the preferred adaptation strategies of the study. Cross-country skiers, particularly tourists, accept artificial snowmaking but rather dislike ski tunnels, provisions for indoor skiing or moves into other skiing regions. If the conditions for cross-country skiing in the Alps are inadequate most cross-country skiers would abstain from skiing in that particular year. As the study reveals, cross-country skiers are increasingly prepared to pay fees for favourable conditions and services. Regarding the booking behaviour there is a trend to late bookings and short breaks. These trends are even enforced if the snow conditions are unreliable. Whilst downhill skiing is supposed to show growing profits in snow-reliable regions and the local economy of the others will probably suffer, cross-country skiing is not expected to show such tendencies. The decline of this valuable winter sport activity will in fact lead to a loss of value added in Austria.