Environmental heritage, efficiency and cross-border attractiveness: the sustainable model of Sainte-Anne La Condamine (Ubaye Valley – Upper Provence)

Purpose A deep understanding of the impacts and risks associated with weather variability is crucial not only for assessing the economic repercussions of future climate change but also for planning effective policies and risk management strategies. Among the areas most exposed to these challenges are mountain regions, which are particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate change due to both their ecological fragility and their socio-economic dependence on seasonal tourism. Design/methodology/approach This study examines the implications of climate-induced transformations for Alpine ski resorts, focussing specifically on the Ubaye Valley in southeastern France. The aim of this research is to explore how ski destinations are adapting to the multifaceted challenges posed by climate change. In this context, the Ubaye Valley serves as a key example of place-based, multi-level responses that are increasingly critical as climate pressures intensify across the Alps. Findings The trend data, the opinions of key stakeholders, interviews and the collected opinions/impressions demonstrate how small settlements (small ski resorts), or “community” ski resorts, appear as parts of a system that opposes, with efficient resource allocations and the protection of environmental heritage, the urban model, as an alternative to the large “urban” alpine ski resorts. Originality/value The update and further development on the competition and competitiveness of the two sides of the Alpine arc, through the ongoing transformations in the winter tourism market, provides qualitative and quantitative information on scenarios and models that “come from the future” and indicate significant changes in the offering. These changes involve the continuous search for efficiency, but also for exclusivity and total customer satisfaction through a selective pricing process.