Large French Alpine ski resort to close in face of shrinking snow season
Alpe du Grand Serre ski resort in the French Alps will close due to financial issues and climate change, resulting in 200 job losses and significant local economic impact.
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Alpe du Grand Serre, a significant ski resort in the French Alps, has announced its closure due to financial constraints and a declining snow season attributed to climate change. Local authorities decided not to reopen the resort this winter, citing an inability to fund mountain lifts or complete a diversification project aimed at transforming it into a year-round destination. This closure will result in the loss of 200 jobs and severely impact the local economy of La Morte, a village dependent on winter sports tourism. The resort has struggled with insufficient snowfall over the past two years, leading to late openings and early closures, alongside aging infrastructure and a lack of investment. Despite nearly €3 million spent since 2021 on a project to attract summer visitors, the local council concluded it could not afford to continue. The situation has prompted calls for state intervention to support struggling ski stations, as many smaller resorts have faced similar challenges, with an estimated 180 closures since the 1970s due to climate issues and management difficulties.
- Alpe du Grand Serre will close due to financial issues and climate change impacts.
- The closure will eliminate 200 jobs and harm the local economy.
- Insufficient snowfall has led to operational challenges in recent years.
- Local authorities have called for state support for struggling ski resorts.
- The trend of ski resort closures reflects broader climate change challenges in the region.
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1 commentsThat’s not large, but rather small.
> The loss-making Alpe du Grand Serre has also suffered from ageing infrastructure and a lack of investment over the past 40 years. > The local authority has spent nearly €3m since 2021 on a project that would keep the resort open all year round, attracting visitors with hiking and bike paths, but said it did not have the money to continue with it for the final two years before completion.
So no investments for a long time and not sufficient budget to diversify. Looks like they were lacking any longterm survival plans.
> Alpe du Grand Serre, a collection of six villages at an altitude of 1,368 metres, (…)
Global warming will put a lot of winter sports resorts at lower altitudes out of snow business. Diversify or face a similar faith.
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