Adapting to climate change is the major task facing ski resorts worldwide. Recently, Director Berno Stoffel and Deputy Director Benedicta Aregger from the Swiss Cableways Association discussed how the situation is being handled in Switzerland – a country synonymous with skiing – at the World Cable Car Congress (OITAF) in Vancouver, Canada.

Climate changes in Switzerland

According to MeteoSwiss, the average temperature in Switzerland has risen by two degrees Celsius since 1864. This means 20% more sunshine since 1980, 30% more frequent heavy rain since 1901, and up to 30% more winter precipitation since 1864.

Conversely, snow days below 800 meters above sea level have halved since 1970, while the growing season has extended by up to four weeks since 1961. Heatwaves are 200% more frequent and intense compared to 1901, frost days have decreased by 60% since 1962, and glaciers have receded dramatically since 1850.

Berno Stoffel (Director Swiss Cableway Association) and
Benedicta Aregger (Deputy Director Swiss Cableway Association).

Additionally, the zero-degree line has moved up by up to 400 meters since 1961, with no end in sight. Currently, the zero-degree line is around 1,000 meters, but by 2080 it could rise to 1,600 meters.

“Due to climate change, it rains more in winter instead of snowing. Moreover, the snow melts quickly due to the warm temperatures, shortening the duration of snow cover, sometimes by up to 30 days. In summer, we experience increasingly long and hot periods,“ summarizes Berno Stoffel on the impact of climate change on Swiss ski resorts.

Assessing the situation

In a survey by Swiss Cableways, ski resort operators in Switzerland reported an average of 6.8 out of 10 winters with guaranteed snow over the past decade. Larger ski resorts (with revenue over five million francs) rated the situation significantly better (8.5 out of 10) than smaller ones (6.2 years).

Looking to the future, the picture is even clearer: between 2041 and 2050, larger ski resorts expect 7.1 winters with guaranteed snow, while small operators expect only 4.1 winters, with an average of just 4.9 snowsecure winters.

Assessing the consequences

The impacts of global warming on individual ski resorts are viewed differently. 53% of surveyed ski resort operators expect an increase in operational disruptions due to natural hazards and wind, 29% see this risk as moderate, and 18% consider it unlikely.

Regarding a decline in demand for snow sports, 54% find it likely, 33% moderately likely, and 24% unlikely. The outlook on shorter winter seasons is more uniform: 75% firmly expect this, 19% believe it moderately, and only 5% find this scenario unrealistic for their ski resort.

Regarding the decline in snow reliability, 84% of respondents consider it very likely, 11% moderately likely, and only 5% find it hardly conceivable.

Strategy 1: Ensuring snow reliability

How can ski resort operators adapt to climate change? One strategy is to ensure the operation of ski resorts through snow reliability, suggests Benedicta Aregger:“Expanding artificial snowmaking is central here, and relocating ski areas to higher altitudes is also an option.“

Investments in facilities should therefore preferably be made at higher elevations. Additionally, operators are encouraged to improve and professionalize their slope maintenance, such as snow compaction.

“Abandoning slopes that require excessive snowmaking can also be a solution,“emphasizes Stoffel. Snowfarming –storing snow over the summer – is not yet a widely established measure in Switzerland.

Strategy 2: Diversifying the offer

Another way to address global warming is through a diversified offering, according to Stoffel: “It is evident that ski resorts are offering other winter fun sports besides classic skiing, such as snowkiting, tubing, or winter golf.“

Organizing winter events on the mountain, hosting winter sports competitions, and providing welldeveloped winter hiking trails for large areas can create additional economic pillars.

“Cooperating with ski areas at higher altitudes can be another option: smaller businesses increasingly rely on the Magic Pass, which is established in western Switzerland, generating additional frequencies. Larger companies, on the other hand, use dynamic pricing to increase their revenues,“ Stoffel adds.

Strategy 3: More summer business

If winter becomes increasingly difficult, it makes sense to focus even more on summer. Product innovation is needed here, says Aregger: “Ski resort operators can significantly broaden their product portfolio, for example, through adventure fun sports like paragliding, ziplines, or mountain carts.“ Events (open-air), playgrounds, and themed hikes are also viable ways.

Implementation status

Surveys and practical examples show to what extent these strategies are already being implemented by Swiss ski resorts.

Large ski resorts are significantly more active in promoting snow-independent offerings than small ones: 54% of businesses with over five million francs in revenue are expanding indoor offerings, ice sports, fitness centers, fun activities, hiking, and biking.

Only 14% of companies with less than five million francs in revenue are doing so. A similar picture emerges regarding the improvement of catering services: while only 12% of small ski resorts invest in bars, restaurants, or nightclubs, 42% of the large players do.

The difference is less pronounced in the development of new snowindependent offerings:

33% of large and 13% of small destinations rely on this. Developing and strengthening new markets is clearly the domain of large ski resorts: 33% focus on new geographical target markets, day instead of week guests, and international sightseeing.Only 9% of small ski resorts follow this strategy.

Oher ways to adapt to climate change come from practice. Many ski resorts use their infrastructure year-round; for example, storage lakes for snowmaking are marketed as recreational areas in summer. On-site energy production, the purchase of renewable energy, and measures to increase energy efficiency are also widespread.

“Other important topics are public transportation for guests, ecologically sustainable local traffic, and e-mobility,“ reports Aregger.

Outlook

For the future, most Swiss ski resorts take a positive, resilient, and innovative perspective: 62% of operators want to strengthen snow tourism, 20% aim to expand the winter offer. And summer? 17% of the surveyed mountain railways want to focus even more on it.