Sharing Scientific Knowledge on Glaciers to the General Public: The Role of Glacier Interpretation Centres in Mountain Tourism Diversification Strategies

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Version: Final published version
License: CC BY-NC-ND 4.0
Serval ID
serval:BIB_59F709F54C5C
Type
Article: article from journal or magazin.
Collection
Publications
Institution
Title
Sharing Scientific Knowledge on Glaciers to the General Public: The Role of Glacier Interpretation Centres in Mountain Tourism Diversification Strategies
Journal
Revue de géographie alpine
Author(s)
Nesur Kalpana, Salim Emmanuel, Girault Camille, Ravanel Ludovic
ISSN
0035-1121
1760-7426
Publication state
Published
Issued date
15/05/2022
Peer-reviewed
Oui
Language
english
Abstract
Climate change is a global challenge that also for glacier tourism. In the European Alps, glacial volume has decreased to one half since the end of the Little Ice Age. To confront with this evolution, local stakeholders are slowing adapting diversification on their tourism products and services. One of these adaptations concerns highlighting the scientific value of the glacier landscapes. Several Glacier Interpretation Centres (GIC) have been developed with the dual aim of spreading scientific knowledge and promoting glacier tourism destinations. Based on a qualitative approach and built in a historical and geographical perspective, this article aims to examine the territorial dynamics and the interaction of stakeholders which led to the creation of three of these centres: the Espace Glacialis (Champagny-le-Haut, France), the Glaciorium (Chamonix, France) and the World Nature Forum (Naters, Switzerland). Through a comparative analysis of these three GICs, the objective is to understand how the valorization of scientific knowledge contributes to the diversification of tourism in mountain areas. Although glacier tourism destinations are profoundly affected by climate change, the results show that local authorities have a strong will to continue to promote their glacier heritages through the creation and management of GICs, these centres undeniably contribute to the diversification of the tourism market and to the dynamisation of the tourism activity in their territories by relying on scientific knowledge and its mediation.
Keywords
Glaciers, climate change, scientific mediation, innovation, tourism diversification
Open Access
Yes
Create date
30/05/2022 8:22
Last modification date
18/01/2023 6:51
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