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Are there alternatives to individual motorised traffic in tourism regions? Concept and basic questions
The Sommets du Tourisme of Chamonix-Mont-Blanc in the shadow of Mont-Blanc, the highest peak in the Alps, has been an annual event since 1999. It is a series of conferences in which we attempt to look at the possibilities for the sustainable development of tourism. The organiser is the Mayor of the city of Chamonix-Mont-Blanc, the biggest centre of tourism in the Alps. Support is provided by the Rhône-Alpes Region and the Department of Haute-Savoie, which also participate in the preparation and discussions of the conferences. As in our previous conferences, so in 2006 we shall discuss new concepts in relation to the problems that concern us, and above all we shall seek practical solutions. Between the 6th and 8th of December our attention will be entirely focused on the general problems of transportation in tourism regions. We shall apply our analytical skills to promising innovations in tourism-related transport links. The aim of our discussions is to identify the most attractive, inexpensive and sustainable concepts and solutions in the area of tourism mobility. The theme of our conference and the focus of our inquiries is thus “Alternative solutions for individual motorised traffic”. In this context the organisers have not forgotten that the emphasis must be on solutions that meet the requirements of those who visit tourism regions, which is tantamount to saying the most efficient, comfortable and affordable transportation systems possible. But they are also conscious that visitors do not want their holiday experiences ruined by transport-related problems such as traffic jams, noise, pollution or parking problems. The tourism industry together with the transport sector is both seekingsolutions capable of reconciling the contradictory needs of mobility for tourism and other activities. Here the political authorities at all levels have a major role to play in controlling the construction and utilisation of transport structures that influence the development of tourism. In reviewing the most promising solutions they must take into consideration not only the requirements of visitors, but even more important the needs of the local resident population. Innovations in transport as the driving force in the rapid development of tourism Tourism is very much dependent on means of transport. Major innovations in transport technology, both for individual and collective transportation, have played a decisive role in tourism’s development into a mass industry.
The railways of the 19th century opened the best locations in Europe to the elite tourism that had its apogee in the “belle époque“. This contributed to the creation of major tourism centres. Today’s railways are still deserve tourism region but are doubled by the more important roads. But they themselves have become attractions. The famous stretch of track that the Rhätischen Bahn operates across the Albula Pass in the Alps (Grisons, Switzerland) for example, which is scheduled for listing as part of the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage. The mass produced automobile that hit the world market at the end of the Second World War again altered the face of tourism. The roads needed to accommodate them spread their ever widening tentacles through traditional tourism regions. Today most of the major destinations are accessible via motorways with two or more lanes in each direction. Tourismenterprises benefit considerably from these agglomeration advantages. Many destinations have matured into cities, with the result that they suffer from negative agglomeration effects, mainly caused by automobiles, whether moving or stationary. The situation has been further complicated by a transport led process of decentralisation. This develops across the available space and leads to tourism-related urban sprawl, which requires considerable additional investment in means of transport. Another trend has been the increasing development of tourism in less attractive places in the hinterland, which as a result of constant returns to scale have only limited growth possibilities. Another revolution with which we are all familiar is the jet age of the 1970s. This brought the most remote places on the planet well within the range of the average Western consumer, for journeys measured in hours. Today 80% of the world’s destinations depend on the big jets. These have made it possible for the countries of the southern hemisphere to compete with the traditional tourism nations. Moreover unlike the automobile, air travel is not burdened by social costs, nor is it taxed. Tourism needs and freedom of choice in means of transport There are few restrictions when it comes to choosing a mean of transport. The choice does however depend on a number of factors and there are various options. The mobility behaviour of visitors to tourism destinations is often the same as it would be the rest of the year at home. No doubt as travellers becomes increasingly aware of environmental problems the demand for more sustainable forms of mobility will rise and be given greater priority. Those who provide tourism products and services would do well to takethis “new form of tourism” seriously. Although it is an open question as to the market share these environmentally aware tourists represent, their numbers are almost certain to rise in the future. This trend contributes to the conservation of natural resources. And it creates a clear "win-win" situation for both visitors and the destination. We should also bear in mind that in most cases tourists purchase transport services as a package. Ideally the consumer’s transport decisions will be similar for the journey out and back and during the stay. The local supplier should take this into account when designing his product, together with local and company objectives. A sustainable package of transport services should include both the journey to and from the destination, and for the duration of the holiday. It is for this reason that cooperation between the various service providers in the area of tourism transport is indispensable. Public transport systems and transport links The existing public and private transport systems play a decisive role in satisfying tourism’s transport requirements, even though generally speaking they were not designed with tourists in mind. There are exceptions however, such as the "Autostrada del Sole", which among other reasons was built to make the seaside resorts of southern Italy more accessible to tourists. Today transport systems have been created to link agglomerations.
Tourism service providers have scarcely any influence on the design and development of public and private transport systems. They are well placed however to take advantage of the benefits offered by these systems for their own specific needs. It is worthwhile making use of the concept of transport links when attempting to analyse tourism-related needs and seeking practical solutions. These links connect the place of origin of the visitor with the destination, and regulate mobility in the tourism regions. For his travelling a potential tourist chooses a means of transport. He decides whether or not to use several forms of transport, or just one (“modal split“). He also decides on the time, duration and price of the journey on the basis of his requirements. During his stay in the destination automobility, “soft“ mobility and combined mobility all play a role. This means deciding whether or not to visit a tourism region with the help of an individual or collective means of transport or possibly “human powered mobility“, for example on foot or cycling.
The questions that need to be answered Hoped-for changes and the reality on the ground The rapid growth of transport systems in the industrialised nations has resulted in ever higher social, economic and ecological costs, which have worsened with the increasing density of such systems in the main locations. The political authorities face the task of developing a transport policy capable of minimising the additional costs caused by the increase in traffic. They create new public transport infrastructure, and hope that those who need to travel both long and short distances will switch from motorised private transport to public systems. In any case public transport in remote areas is increasingly thin on the ground. The authorities responsible for transport planning often fail in their objectives
The changes which the authorities hope for contrast sharply with the mobility habits of the average citizen, who uses a variety of means of transport for work and play, i.e. in accordance with the services available, usually without attempting to play one off against the other. The railway traveller may, it is true, smile contentedly as he is effortlessly whisked past endless traffic jams. He is less happy however when his train is late. Moreover he or she is delighted to be able to pack the car with shopping and drive home unhindered. He does not see mobility as a problem. Questions to be asked What impact does individual motorised transport have on society, the economy and the environment? Travel from the point of origin to the destination Visitors organise their travel, be it for tourism or business, in accordance with such criteria as speed, convenience, comfort and price. The ability to provide fast, convenient, comfortable and inexpensive travel from the point of origin to the destination is essential for the development of tourism. Travellers choose their means of transport on the basis of these criteria. Price however is increasingly important in the decision, regardless of the purchasing power of the individual. Building more transport infrastructure only increases the amount of traffic, while low prices make additional travel possible. Easy accessibility is a plus for the economy, but one that brings new social costs with it. The “low cost carrier“ is an example. In France this phenomenon has revived the market for second homes, in particular for British visitors, leading to a new form of urban sprawl. Sophisticated road networks with links to fast motorways have a similar impact. The question which arises at this point is whether or not the rising price of oil will affect such travel behaviour. Once the era of cheap travel by air and automobile is seen to be over, public transport could once again become an important link with tourism regions. Questions What impact does cheap air travel have on the development of tourism infrastructure in destinations? Transport systems for sustainable holidays The “last kilometre” in tourism regions often leaves much to be desired. In most cases the public transport links with the nearest places of any importance are poor. Many tourism centres suffer from traffic congestion, usually caused by individual motorised transport used by the local population, and aggravated by tourism-related means of transport. The development of transport in the hinterland and between centres is often neglected at the same time. Tourism regions and locations that have developed and implemented a dynamic concept that effectively manages both parked and moving vehicles benefit from a competitive advantage. Tailor-made technicalsolutions are available today for the implementation of traffic control measures. There are private companies ready to develop public transport solutions on behalf of regional and local authorities and to implement them. Questions How can the automobile, whether parked or moving, be brought under control? How to come to terms with traffic in major centres All of our most successful tourism attractions and destinations suffer from traffic congestion. And unlike cities and agglomerations they rarely have efficient public transport systems. Car-free tourism centres find it difficult to control the flow of tourists without sacrificing quality. The question is whether or not the traffic in the big tourism centres can be brought under control with the help of new methods such as “road pricing”. It is increasingly clear that the larger car-free tourism centres are no longer able to manage the flow of traffic, and their public transport systems are no longer able to cope. Traffic is increasingly to be seen as a variable limiting growth. Questions What can be done to prevent attractive places from being asphyxiated by traffic? Transport as an attraction Public transport systems are necessary for the development of tourism regions. But they can also be attractions themselves. And of course they help to relieve road traffic. Countries like Japan, Switzerland and France have gone out of their way to develop public transport systems as tourism attractions. Stretches of railway, coaches operated by the postal service, and cruises offered as a public service on rivers, lakes and the sea are all popular with tourists. The best-known rail services are the Glacier Express that links Zermatt with St. Moritz and the Mont Blanc Express. Questions How can public transport systems serve tourism? “Soft” mobility “Soft” mobility, powered by human muscles, is a new form of tourism, both for reaching the destination and visiting it. It is the best way to contemplate and enjoy a natural setting, and it’s good for the health. Moreover it frees us from the disadvantages of travelling by car. Cycling paths and footpaths are a great hit with tourists. Some tourism countries including Switzerland have developed new public transport systems based on “soft” mobility and events such as so-called “slow ups“ (car-free days) that have caught on with the modern tourist. Tourism centres that encourage walking and cycling can help to end the domination of the automobile. Questions Can “soft” mobility become an economically successful niche activity, capable of creating jobs and generating earnings? Visions and Policies The future of transport depends on a number of factors: technological developments, social and economic developments, and government policies. There does not seem to be any major transport innovations in the pipeline. The increase in traffic will have to be managed with the help of existing technologies, which though ripe are constantly being improved. As in the past, carefully controlled development of transport, i.e. in ways that solve local transport problems, is important for the economy and society as a whole. The State naturally has a major role to play, since it oversees the development and operation of both public and private transport. Major investments in transport systems by the State cause structures to change, including those of tourism. Even at this time of concern about the “greenhouse effect” the automobile continues to play a major role. It is constantly being improved, adapted to society’s new requirements, made less intrusive and more energy-efficient. It is becoming increasingly clear that our society based on the automobile is reaching more and more its limits as mobility becomes ever more time-consuming and expensive. Fewer people are buying cars, those that have them are using them less, and some are switching to other means of transport that offer clear advantages. Questions What is happening at the level of supply and demand in the use of the automobile for leisure and tourism?
Prof. Peter Keller
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