Ski – resort and regional development: profile of visitors ... - E-Journal

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Ski - resort and regional development: profile of visitors and appraisal of demand in parnassos ski - resort
2. WINTER TOURISM AND DEVELOPMENT OF MOUNTAINOUS AREAS
Since the decade of ’50s, it began an important effort for the development of various tourist
activities in the mountainous Mediterranean regions. In these areas the traditional activities
of agriculture and livestock-farming were unable to contribute to the improvement of income
of local people (Andre, 1998; Godde et al., 2000).
Generally speaking, the development of tourist infrastructure in Europe has been achieved
through various ways the most important of which are (a) the differentiation of productive
direction of agricultural exploitation (including tourist services such as accommodation and
catering) (Walford, 2001), (b) the creation of companies devoted to outdoor activities such
as climbing and other adventure sports (Hudson and Miller, 2005; Pomfret, 2006), (c) the
exploitation of landscape and natural resources such the creation of national parks and (d) the
development of ski resorts (Price, 1987; Mules, 2005).
During the last two decades, special or alternative forms of tourism and relevant recreational
activities (ecotourism, winter tourism, agro-tourism) have started to develop in Greek
mountainous regions (Iakovidou, 2000; Galani-Moutafi, 2004; Soutsas et al., 2006). Winter
tourism can be defined as the tourist flow towards a country or a particular region, during
winter months often found in ski-resorts and surrounding mountainous areas. Winter tourism
in Greece is materialised through special activities that increase the «attractiveness» of a
region during winter season such as skiing and other winter sports curried out in ski-resorts
(Christopoulou, 1991, Karameris, 2000; Soutsas et al., 2006). Nowadays, there is an increasing
demand for outdoor recreation. This scaling demand is the outcome of improved standards
of living and the considerable increase in free time in many developed and developing countries.
This situation has led both the state and the local development bodies to invest in the utilization
and sustainable exploitation of natural resources in order to develop diverse recreational
facilities. Recreation, and skiing in particular, has become a crucial factor in the development
of mountainous areas (Christopoulou, 1991; Cordell, 1999).
After the World War II, the development of winter tourism in Greece began with the foundation
of ski -resorts thus contributing to the economic development of mountainous regions. The
construction of essential infrastructures (roads, ski facilities) created the basic conditions for
their growth. In particular, winter tourism contributes to the increase of income of mountainous
communities which are situated around the ski-resorts in various ways. It provides part-time
jobs as well as the possibility of exploiting tourist lodgings and sailing local rural products
to the tourists. In addition, it improves the conditions of life and the cultural level of region
(Karameris, 2000).
A great number of researchers agree that the in-depth study of the social, economic and
demographic characteristics of ski -resorts visitors constitute a useful tool for improving resort
administration policy.
Tourism Today - Fall 2007 - Full Paper