Climate change puts Swiss tourism to the test

Climate change is hitting Swiss tourism hard – and skiing in particular is feeling the heat. A tourism expert weighs in on the challenges facing the industry and whether climate-neutral tourism is more than just a pipe dream. Climate change is transforming Switzerland – and the effect is being felt particularly in tourist regions. “Rising temperatures are devastating for ski tourism,” says Monika Bandi, head of the research centre on tourism at the University of Bern. “There is also more frequent heavy rainfall in summer, less precipitation in winter, and thawing permafrost, which can make slopes unstable.” One-third of the mountain huts operated by the Swiss Alpine Club are in danger because they are in an area where the permafrost is thawing. Hiking trails are also under threat. “Natural hazards are increasingly expected in areas and during seasons that have so far been safe,” writes the Swiss Hiking Trail Association. Thawing permafrost, as well as heavy precipitation and wet ...