Societal Opposition to Tourism-Related Development in the Hautes-Pyrénées: a Missed Opportunity for Territorial Innovation?

In the Pyrenees, the decentralised manner in which planning permission is awarded to projects might give the impression that the expansion of ski resorts is now more attuned to the concerns of local people, with potential conflicts handled more effectively than they were in the past. The reality is...

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Main Authors: Sylvie Clarimont, Vincent Vlès
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Institut de Géographie Alpine 2016-05-01
Series:Revue de Géographie Alpine
Subjects:
Online Access:https://journals.openedition.org/rga/3258
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author Sylvie Clarimont
Vincent Vlès
author_facet Sylvie Clarimont
Vincent Vlès
author_sort Sylvie Clarimont
collection DOAJ
description In the Pyrenees, the decentralised manner in which planning permission is awarded to projects might give the impression that the expansion of ski resorts is now more attuned to the concerns of local people, with potential conflicts handled more effectively than they were in the past. The reality is in fact quite different: The direct proximity of highly artificial spaces dedicated to winter sports with zones of exceptional environmental and natural importance continues to produce many conflicts; however, these receive relatively little media attention, but they have the potential to block development. Today’s anti-development associations are using new tools and methods, and their ability to counter proposed projects is undeniable. Presenting a resistance that is “solid, well-organised and backed up by legal expertise”, they use legal channels to campaign against projects they consider to be harmful, and they eschew mass demonstrations. This marks a clear break from previous approaches. Unlike the protest movements of the 1970s, these citizens’ associations remain pragmatic, non-hierarchical and local, led by ‘mountain folk’. Some local campaigns are ambiguous in nature and bring together a highly diverse array of stakeholders with interests in the local economy. Protest groups first and foremost, these associations rarely transcend their oppositional stance to propose real alternatives and become a force for territorial innovation.
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spelling doaj-art-7be564baf8ca4a229aac5a81ddd3180e2025-01-10T15:55:24ZengInstitut de Géographie AlpineRevue de Géographie Alpine0035-11211760-74262016-05-01104110.4000/rga.3258Societal Opposition to Tourism-Related Development in the Hautes-Pyrénées: a Missed Opportunity for Territorial Innovation?Sylvie ClarimontVincent VlèsIn the Pyrenees, the decentralised manner in which planning permission is awarded to projects might give the impression that the expansion of ski resorts is now more attuned to the concerns of local people, with potential conflicts handled more effectively than they were in the past. The reality is in fact quite different: The direct proximity of highly artificial spaces dedicated to winter sports with zones of exceptional environmental and natural importance continues to produce many conflicts; however, these receive relatively little media attention, but they have the potential to block development. Today’s anti-development associations are using new tools and methods, and their ability to counter proposed projects is undeniable. Presenting a resistance that is “solid, well-organised and backed up by legal expertise”, they use legal channels to campaign against projects they consider to be harmful, and they eschew mass demonstrations. This marks a clear break from previous approaches. Unlike the protest movements of the 1970s, these citizens’ associations remain pragmatic, non-hierarchical and local, led by ‘mountain folk’. Some local campaigns are ambiguous in nature and bring together a highly diverse array of stakeholders with interests in the local economy. Protest groups first and foremost, these associations rarely transcend their oppositional stance to propose real alternatives and become a force for territorial innovation.https://journals.openedition.org/rga/3258ski resorttourism developmentconflictregional innovationHautes-Pyrénées
spellingShingle Sylvie Clarimont
Vincent Vlès
Societal Opposition to Tourism-Related Development in the Hautes-Pyrénées: a Missed Opportunity for Territorial Innovation?
Revue de Géographie Alpine
ski resort
tourism development
conflict
regional innovation
Hautes-Pyrénées
title Societal Opposition to Tourism-Related Development in the Hautes-Pyrénées: a Missed Opportunity for Territorial Innovation?
title_full Societal Opposition to Tourism-Related Development in the Hautes-Pyrénées: a Missed Opportunity for Territorial Innovation?
title_fullStr Societal Opposition to Tourism-Related Development in the Hautes-Pyrénées: a Missed Opportunity for Territorial Innovation?
title_full_unstemmed Societal Opposition to Tourism-Related Development in the Hautes-Pyrénées: a Missed Opportunity for Territorial Innovation?
title_short Societal Opposition to Tourism-Related Development in the Hautes-Pyrénées: a Missed Opportunity for Territorial Innovation?
title_sort societal opposition to tourism related development in the hautes pyrenees a missed opportunity for territorial innovation
topic ski resort
tourism development
conflict
regional innovation
Hautes-Pyrénées
url https://journals.openedition.org/rga/3258
work_keys_str_mv AT sylvieclarimont societaloppositiontotourismrelateddevelopmentinthehautespyreneesamissedopportunityforterritorialinnovation
AT vincentvles societaloppositiontotourismrelateddevelopmentinthehautespyreneesamissedopportunityforterritorialinnovation