The Future of Mountain Resorts

Initially summer-focused, with spa tourism and mountaineering, the practice of mountain tourism for sports and leisure became predominantly winter-oriented from the 1950s onwards. The development of ski resorts in the 1960s and 1970s, thanks to the State’s Snow Plans, undoubtedly brought a modern twist to the mountains and preserved jobs, while contributing to profound changes in the affected local societies. A new era begins in this decade of 2020, due in particular to climate changes, management of the leisure real estate park, new expectations of customers and resident populations, but also the investment and management capacities of private operators and local communities. Beyond the touristic diversification of Alpine territories—a major goal for local actors—the “mountain resort of tomorrow” remains to be invented, and it can take various forms. In this round table, researchers, local elected officials, representatives of the economic and associative world propose to share their knowledge and inspiring experiences to envision the resorts of tomorrow.