The Basòdino glacier in Ticino from above.Image: keystone
The rush towards melting glaciers is becoming a problem. According to researchers, tourism could threaten the fragile ice landscapes that it actually wants to bring people closer to.
The international research team led by the University of Lausanne (Unil) sheds light on the contradictions that arise from this phenomenon in a commentary published on Monday in the journal “Nature Climate Change”.
The researchers warn that the glacier landscapes could be “loved to death” by tourists who simply move on to the next popular travel destination as soon as the glaciers have disappeared.
“Last chance tourism”
Glaciers have been attracting tourists since the 18th century. But the melting of glaciers, which has been accelerated by climate change, has caused tourist interest to rise sharply in recent years. “Awareness of climate change has promoted glaciers as a tourist attraction to an extent that centuries of tourism never did,” write the researchers.
On the way on the dwindling Fee glacier
Video: watson/david indumi
More than 14 million people visit the ten most famous glacier locations every year. The term “last-chance tourism” describes this behavior, which, according to the researchers, can be observed from Alaska to the Alps: People want to see the ice “one more time” before it disappears.
According to the researchers, tourism providers are responding to this by expanding the narrative: where the focus was previously on the beauty of the glaciers, information and education are now more important. For example, there are panels in front of many glaciers that quantify their retreat.
Technical patchwork
In order to maintain this tourism business, the industry is making technical adjustments. On the one hand, this includes the infrastructure that is needed so that tourists can see the glaciers: such as stairs and footbridges, cable cars or helicopter flights.
At the same time, the tourism industry is trying to secure its economic basis with technical measures. Glacier tongues are sometimes covered with special geotextiles to slow down the melt. Or “snow farming” is practiced: snow is stored over the winter so that it can be used in the summer.
The researchers view such measures critically. They are often profit-oriented and do not address the fundamental causes of climate change. According to the scientists, this could delay necessary changes. They also pose risks of maladaptation, i.e. solutions that help in the short term but create new problems in the long term. Geotextiles can lead to microplastic pollution, and helicopter flights increase the carbon footprint.
According to the researchers, the question also arises as to who will benefit from this “glacier boom”. There is a risk that local communities will be left alone to deal with the negative consequences such as water shortages or natural hazards, while the profits flow to external actors.
Strong symbols for climate protection
In addition to the risks, the team also emphasizes: Glaciers are developing into strong political symbols for climate protection on a global level. As examples, the researchers cite the “Glacier Initiative” in Switzerland, or a petition in India that enforced a ban on climbing on a mountain to protect a fragile ecosystem.
The confrontation with the disappearing glaciers triggers emotional reactions in many people. The researchers speak of an “ecological mourning”. This feeling of losing familiar landscapes also leads to new rituals. In recent years, “glacier funerals” have taken place in Iceland, Switzerland and other countries.
These ceremonies combine commemoration with protest and are intended to raise public awareness. According to the researchers, it is still unclear whether these experiences lead to long-term more environmentally friendly behavior.
The researchers emphasize that the development of glacier tourism must be carefully monitored. More research is needed to find fair and sustainable solutions for the affected regions. (hkl/sda)