the president of France Montagnes points to “a dogmatic report” from the Court of Auditors which asks resorts to change their model

In a report published Tuesday February 6, the Court of Auditors notes that “the economic model of French skiing is running out of steam” and that the resorts have not sufficiently taken stock of the climate crisis.

It is “a dogmatic report without taking into account the elements of mountain professionals”, denounced Tuesday February 6 on franceinfo the president of the national association of mayors of mountain resorts (ANMSM) and mayor of La Plagne, in Savoie, Jean-Luc Boch. While in a report published this Tuesday, the Court of Auditors estimates that “the economic model of French skiing is running out of steam” and that ski resorts have not sufficiently taken stock of climate change, the man who is also president of France Montagnes deplores that“none of these documents” produced by the ANMSM is not “referred to in this report”.

In this 147-page document produced after an audit of forty-two stations in all the massifs, the Court examines, among other things, the impact of artificial snow. Presented by ski resorts as potentially constituting a solution to climate change, the Court denounces a vision of “short term” and states that “its cost is significant and its effectiveness tends to reduce with rising temperatures”. Furthermore, the development of snow cannons has an impact on “water resources”, according to the report. However, for Jean-Luc Boch, “there is no impact, other than delaying the water cycle, which is essential to life in the areas”. “With artificial snow, we can irrigate the areas for much longer”assures the president of the ANMSM, for whom snow cannons are not “absolutely not a problem”.

If the Court is alarmed by the obsession with “all skis”the rapporteurs also highlight the development of non-skiing activities (mountain biking, ziplining, or even spa treatment), which are often unprofitable and thought “without strategy”. An opinion that “don’t share at all” the councilor of La Plagne: “The mountain destination is first and foremost loved by our customers.” “If we offer everything we want, if the clientele is not there, there is no economic aspect”says Jean-Luc Boch. “You have to work with professionals who know the thing, otherwise you are not credible”he insists.