Tourism and Outdoor Recreation in a Melting World

The shrinking cryosphere – with retreating glaciers, disappearing sea ice and perennial snow, and thawing permafrost – has become one of the strongest symbols of global climate change. As cryospheric components have been a place of tourism and recreational practices for centuries, the iconic status of the frozen world is being reinforced by its vulnerability, contributing to the emergence of last chance tourism. In alpine areas around the world, tourism destinations grapple with the loss of glaciers and perennial snow, which affects both supply and demand of glacier tourism products and mountain guide services, changes the way mountains are used for tourism experiences and mountaineering activities, and increases natural hazard risks. Loss of snow and ice also alters the visual appearance of mountain landscapes, with implications for place and destination identities. However, despite the significant issues involved, the social, human, cultural, and economic dimensions of cryosphere retreat are understudied.

This Research Topic aims at focusing on the human dimensions at the nexus of cryosphere retreat and tourism and recreation. We welcome both empirical and conceptual papers that explore the relation of the economic, social, cultural and subjective dimension of loss of ice and perennial snow to nature-based tourism and outdoor recreation. We are interested particularly in papers addressing the relationship between cryosphere loss and sustainability in tourism. This includes research on adaptation and resilience, pro-environmental behaviour, emotions and place identity in relation to cryosphere loss and tourism and outdoor recreation.