This is an essay on the impact of the retreating Titlis glacier on tourism in Engelberg.
The fieldwork question is firstly linked to the topic “extreme environments”. This links to Engelberg because Engelberg is situated in an alpine region surrounded by tall mountains. The second syllabus topic is linked to “leisure, tourism and sports”. Engelberg is a tourist and mountain sports destination. “Global climate – vulnerability and resilience” is another syllabus, since the climate change has a great effect on snow conditions and the glacial retreat.
Table of Contents
1 Introduction
1.1 Fieldwork question
1.2 Hypothesis
1.3 Syllabus links
1.4 Geographic context
1.5 Excursion
2 Methods of investigation
3 Analysis
3.1 Results
3.2 Diagrams and tables
3.3 Discussion
4 Conclusion
5 Evaluation
6 Work cited
7 Appendices
7.1 Questionnaire
7.2 Excursion protocol
Research Objectives and Themes
This internal assessment investigates the potential economic and tourism-related impacts of the retreating Titlis Glacier on the Engelberg valley, exploring how changes in environmental conditions might influence visitor behavior and the sustainability of regional tourism models.
- Analysis of glacier retreat and its correlation with tourist visitation patterns.
- Differentiation between winter sports enthusiasts and glacier sight-seeing tourists.
- Economic dependency of regional stakeholders on glacier-based tourism.
- Future-oriented impact assessment regarding climate change in alpine environments.
Excerpt from the Book
3.3.1 Glacier sight-seeing tourism
Once the glacier has disappeared, tourism of this kind will not be possible anymore, because there is no more glacier to look at. On the other hand, Asian tourists who dominate this form of tourism said, that it only partly applies, that they wouldn't visit Engelberg without the Titlis glacier. The important factor is not the glacier but snow. A lot of Asian tourists travel to Engelberg to see snow for the first time in their life, not to see a glacier (B.). A few Asians though still say they would visit Engelberg without snow. Probably Asians are also interested in the Swiss landscape and not only snow.
If there would not be any snow left on the Titlis glacier, about one third of Asians would not visit anymore. This would not be fortunate for hotels in Engelberg, since Indians sleep in Engelberg the 3rd most just behind the Swiss and Germans („CH/Engelberg als Tourismusdestination gefragt wie noch nie | NZZ“). Stores on the Titlis glacier itself though would make losses in revenue since people who shop there the most are Asian tourists (B.). If the Titlis glacier disappears, stores on the Titlis glacier will therefore most likely not be lucrative anymore and will have to close. All these effects, though, would probably only kick in in summer This might result in the Titlis Bahnen AG not operating anymore in summer. This may cost jobs and have an impact on the economy of Engelberg. Because most Asian tourists only want to see snow, a decrease in glacier sight-seeing tourists is not expected in winter as snow is then still present. The end of this form of tourism will probably only happen once there is absolutely no snow left.
Summary of Chapters
1 Introduction: This chapter establishes the research question, the working hypothesis, and connects the study to relevant geography syllabus topics like extreme environments and tourism.
2 Methods of investigation: This section details the data collection process, specifically the use of quantitative questionnaires among tourists and the qualitative research performed regarding future tourism outlooks.
3 Analysis: This chapter evaluates the survey results through statistical diagrams and tables, followed by a discussion of the economic consequences of glacier retreat on specific tourist demographics.
4 Conclusion: The author summarizes the findings, confirming the hypothesis partially, and suggests that tourism in Engelberg must adapt to the inevitable long-term environmental changes.
5 Evaluation: A critical review of the research methodology, reflecting on data reliability, survey sample size, and potential linguistic barriers encountered during the questioning process.
6 Work cited: A list of all academic and web-based sources referenced throughout the assessment.
7 Appendices: Contains the full questionnaire template and detailed protocols from the field excursion.
Keywords
Engelberg, Titlis Glacier, Glacier retreat, Tourism, Economy, Climate change, Winter sports, Sight-seeing, Alpine environment, Sustainability, Questionnaire, Data analysis, Tourism impact, Switzerland, Regional economy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core subject of this research paper?
The research examines the impact of the retreating Titlis Glacier on the future of tourism and the regional economy in the Engelberg valley.
What are the primary themes discussed in this study?
The study focuses on glacier recession, tourist behavior, economic sustainability, and the adaptation strategies required for mountain tourism destinations in the face of climate change.
What is the main research question of this assessment?
The research asks what impact the retreating Titlis Glacier has on the future tourism and economy of the Engelberg valley.
Which scientific methodology was applied?
The author utilized a mixed-methods approach, combining quantitative data from 130 visitor questionnaires with qualitative information gathered during an excursion and expert interviews.
What is covered in the main body of the paper?
The main body includes a detailed analysis of tourist demographics, survey statistics on visitation intentions, and a breakdown of how different tourist segments (winter sports vs. sight-seers) respond to glacier loss.
Which keywords best describe the paper's focus?
Key terms include Engelberg, Titlis Glacier, tourism, economic impact, climate change, and alpine sustainability.
How do Asian tourists differ from other visitor groups according to the findings?
The findings indicate that Asian tourists are primarily motivated by glacier and snow sight-seeing, making them more likely to stop visiting if these features vanish, compared to winter sports enthusiasts.
Why does the author consider the "language difficulty" an evaluation point?
The author notes that complex question phrasing and potential double negatives in the survey may have led to respondent misunderstandings, which is a critical reflection on the research reliability.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Anonym (Autor:in), 2019, What impact does the retreating Titlis Glacier have on the future tourism and economy of the Engelberg valley?, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/988175
