Climate, weather and visitor behaviour in the Feldberg ski area

Winter tourism is strongly affected by changes of climate-related variables. It depends on suitable climatic conditions such as the availability of snow and cold temperatures. However, there is also a direct influence of the climate on the behaviour of skiers, as shown in earlier studies. The aim of this study was to get a deeper understanding of the climate development and its influences on the behaviour of the guests at a low-elevation skiing resort by analysing the long-term development of the climatic variables and the usage data of the skiing area Wintersportzentrum Feldberg.

Trend analysis, descriptive statistics and a linear multiple regression model approach were used to assess and evaluate the climatic and usage data as well as its relations.

First of all, the results from the long-term climate data analysis show a positive trend for the development of the seasonal snow cover during the analysed period: a longer duration, an earlier start and a higher consistency. Also, the natural seasonal snow reliability has improved in the last years. However, the mean air temperature during winter has risen significantly over the examination period. Regarding the usage data analysis, the results indicate an overall decline of the number of skier days and ski lift rides in the skiing area. Nevertheless, the number of guests per day of service has increased at the same time. Furthermore, the distribution of days of service shows a strong shift to the latter part of the winter season. The results of the multiple regression analysis with climatic and usage data display a significant negative influence of the increase of wind speed and air temperature on the number of lift rides. More sunshine hours and a greater snow depth, however, increase the usage intensity of the ski lifts. The results of this analysis predo- minately confirm the findings of similar studies conducted in the European Alps and Northern America. They also show the unusual positive development of the local snow conditions around the Feldberg. However, there is still potential to build more complex and capable models to simulate the effects of climate on skiers including as well other circumstances (e.g. economics, sociology).