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The Demand for Winter Sports: Empirical Evidence for the Largest French Ski-Lift Operator

Author

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  • Martin Falk

    (Austrian Institute of Economic Research (WIFO), Arsenal Objekt 20, A-1030 Vienna, Austria)

Abstract

This paper investigates the determinants of long-run winter tourism demand for French ski resorts. The data are based on skier visits to the largest ski-lift operator in the world (Compagnie des Alpes) for the winter seasons 1993/1994 to 2011/2012. Using dynamic panel data models for six ski resorts, the study finds relatively low income and price elasticities in absolute terms, with long-run elasticities of 0.64 and −0.40, respectively. Furthermore, the study finds that snow depth measured at the weather station Col de Porte — located at the medium elevation of 1,325 metres above sea level — is a significant predictor of skier days in the high-elevation ski areas. However, the magnitude of the effect of poor snow years is very small: on average, low-snow winter seasons (such as 1989/1990 or 2006/2007) will lead to a reduction in skier visits of about 2.5%. The results are not sensitive with respect to the measurement and timing of snow depth.

Suggested Citation

  • Martin Falk, 2015. "The Demand for Winter Sports: Empirical Evidence for the Largest French Ski-Lift Operator," Tourism Economics, , vol. 21(3), pages 561-580, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:toueco:v:21:y:2015:i:3:p:561-580
    DOI: 10.5367/te.2013.0366
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Tim Taylor & Ramon Arigoni Ortiz, 2009. "Impacts of Climate Change on Domestic Tourism in the UK: A Panel Data Estimation," Tourism Economics, , vol. 15(4), pages 803-812, December.
    2. Camille Gonseth, 2013. "Impact of snow variability on the Swiss winter tourism sector: implications in an era of climate change," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 119(2), pages 307-320, July.
    3. Falk, Martin, 2010. "A dynamic panel data analysis of snow depth and winter tourism," Tourism Management, Elsevier, vol. 31(6), pages 912-924.
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Marius Mayer & O. Cenk Demiroglu & Oguzhan Ozcelebi, 2018. "Microclimatic Volatility and Elasticity of Glacier Skiing Demand," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(10), pages 1-14, October.
    2. Patricia Aranda-Cuéllar & José María López-Morales & María Jesús Such-Devesa, 2021. "Winter tourism dependence: A cyclical and cointegration analysis. Case study for the Alps," Tourism Economics, , vol. 27(7), pages 1540-1560, November.
    3. Falk, Martin & Hagsten, Eva, 2016. "Importance of early snowfall for Swedish ski resorts: Evidence based on monthly data," Tourism Management, Elsevier, vol. 53(C), pages 61-73.
    4. Falk, Martin & Vanat, Laurent, 2016. "Gains from investments in snowmaking facilities," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 130(C), pages 339-349.
    5. Aurélie Corne & Olga Goncalves & Nicolas Peypoch, 2020. "Evaluating the performance drivers of French ski resorts: A hierarchical approach," Managerial and Decision Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 41(3), pages 389-405, April.
    6. Martin Falk & Sigbjorn Landazuri Tveteraas, 2020. "Modelling the wider effects of ski lift investments," Empirical Economics, Springer, vol. 59(1), pages 259-274, July.
    7. Steiger, Robert & Posch, Eva & Tappeiner, Gottfried & Walde, Janette, 2020. "The impact of climate change on demand of ski tourism - a simulation study based on stated preferences," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 170(C).
    8. Iveta Malasevska & Erik Haugom & Gudbrand Lien, 2017. "Modelling and forecasting alpine skier visits," Tourism Economics, , vol. 23(3), pages 669-679, May.
    9. Ziye Shang & Jian Ming Luo & Anthony Kong, 2022. "Topic Modelling for Ski Resorts: An Analysis of Experience Attributes and Seasonality," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(6), pages 1-15, March.
    10. Juan Luis Nicolau & María Jesús Santa-María, 2017. "Sports results creating tourism value," Tourism Economics, , vol. 23(3), pages 697-701, May.
    11. Martin Falk & Robert Steiger, 2020. "Size facilitates profitable ski lift operations," Tourism Economics, , vol. 26(7), pages 1197-1211, November.
    12. Eduard Cristobal-Fransi & Natalia Daries & Antoni Serra-Cantallops & José Ramón-Cardona & Maria Zorzano, 2018. "Ski Tourism and Web Marketing Strategies: The Case of Ski Resorts in France and Spain," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(8), pages 1-24, August.
    13. Hiroki Komatsu & Yasuo Ohe, 2025. "The effectiveness of countermeasure services against declining visitor numbers to ski resorts in nagano, Japan," Tourism Economics, , vol. 31(3), pages 538-556, May.
    14. Grigore Vasile Herman & Vasile Grama & Sorin Buhaș & Lavinia Daiana Garai & Tudor Caciora & Alexandra Grecu & Andreea Karina Gruia & Oana Simona Hudea & Daniel Peptenatu, 2021. "The Analysis of the Ski Slopes and the Degree of Economic Dependence Induced by Winter Sports Tourism. The Case of Romania," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(24), pages 1-19, December.
    15. Martin Falk & Xiang Lin, 2018. "The declining dependence of ski lift operators on natural snow conditions," Tourism Economics, , vol. 24(6), pages 662-676, September.
    16. Shoukat Ali & Ramiz Ur Rehman & Muhammad Ishfaq Ahmad & Joe Ueng, 2021. "Does Board Diversity Attract Foreign Institutional Ownership? Insights from the Chinese Equity Market," JRFM, MDPI, vol. 14(11), pages 1-15, October.

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