Cover the ice or ski on grass? The dilemmas facing tourism in a deglaciating world

Climate change is having a world-wide impact, particularly on the cryosphere, which is experiencing rapid melting with a range of consequences for the environment and society. In many places, reduced snow and ice have implications for the experiences of visitors. This article reviews the impacts of deglaciation on glacier and ski tourism and in doing so, it brings together human and physical geography. We begin by summarising the relationships between glaciers and climate change, highlighting impacts of glacier retreat, before considering tourism in glaciated areas. We explore ways in which some locations are adapting to changing environmental conditions and examine tactics that have been used to manage the effects of deglaciation on tourism, specifically in the European Alps. Glacier conservation, snow harvesting, the production of artificial snow and modifying the range of tourist experiences all illustrate the dilemmas involved in adapting to climate change in practice.