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Degrowth as a Form of Transition for Mountain Resorts and their Territoires: The Case of the Saint-Pierre-De-Chartreuse/Le Planolet Ski Resort

Emmanuelle George, Mathieu Schoendoerffer, Raffaella Balzarini et Véronique Reynier
Cet article est une traduction de :
La décroissance, une forme de transition des stations de montagne et de leurs territoires ? L’exemple de la station de Saint-Pierre-de-Chartreuse/Le Planolet [fr]

Résumé

Following a period of strong growth in the 1960s and 1970s, winter sports resorts now find themselves in diverging situations: while some are recording all-time highs in visitor numbers, others face major economic and snow cover challenges against the backdrop of climate change. Some resorts are therefore embarking on transition processes that have as yet been little studied. In parallel, certain public, academic and civil society actors are increasingly interested in the perspective of degrowth, for both the economy as a whole and the tourism sector more specifically. However, the practical implementation of the concept of degrowth at the level of the territoires remains underexplored. Does the concept of degrowth provide us with a way to better define the transition trajectories of mountain resorts?
This article examines the trajectory of the Saint-Pierre-de-Chartreuse/Le Planolet ski resort and its
territoire through the lens of degrowth. It highlights the importance of mobilising an analytical framework that incorporates multiple dimensions, levels and thematic elements (the ski area, tourism and the territoire). While degrowth ultimately appears to constitute a relevant interpretative framework for exploring the dynamics involved, we also show that degrowth in skiing does not necessarily mean degrowth in tourism and/or the local economy more broadly, and highlight the presence of fragile, non-linear ongoing processes.

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The authors1 warmly thank the stakeholders—whether private, public, or local residents—of the Communité de Communes Cœur de Chartreuse for their welcome and their involvement in this work.

Introduction

  • 2 In this article, we use the French concept of territoire, which we choose to retain in French. See (...)

1Winter sports resorts represent a key economic sector in mountain territoires2, in both France (DSF, 2024; Bérard-Chenu, 2021) and in Europe more widely (Vanat, 2025). French ski resorts were first created in the early 20th century and developed strongly during the 1960s and 1970s on the back of public planning policies. They became symbols of mass tourism, generating employment and demographic recovery in mountain areas that had long been marginalised.

2Following this expansion phase, the winter sports industry began to come under criticism in the 1970s, with its detractors focusing on the limits of urbanisation and the appropriation of tourism development by external actors (Arnaud, 1975; Cognat, 1973). The 1990s saw the emergence of problems with snow cover (Lorit, 1991), which were initially perceived as a meteorological blip before being recognised as a structural constraint linked to climate change (Paccard, 2010; Spandre et al., 2015). The issue of tourist accommodation also began to gain prominence, particularly in relation to resort occupancy rates (Fablet, 2015; Drouet, 2024; Atout France, 2024).

  • 3 The term “ski bashing” is mainly used by those involved in skiing and tourism to refer to what they (...)

3It was not until the 2010s and 2020s that more radical criticism of ski resorts took shape, driven by projects involving artificial snowmaking, tourism infrastructure and urban development in various locations (notably La Clusaz and Gresse-en-Vercors), and reflecting often intense opposition to both the industrial nature of resorts and their role in driving the excesses of intensive tourism. At the same time, the winter sports industry has continued to perform strongly, as shown by ski area visitor numbers (DSF, 2024), record levels of investment in ski lifts in 2023 (€358 million excluding VAT over the period 2020–2023) and the continued appeal of mountain destinations (Atout France, 2024). These figures have been held up to reaffirm the pivotal role of skiing and tourism in mountain regions and to counter “ski bashing” narratives.3

  • 4 TranStat is a project funded for three years by the Interreg Alpine Space Programme, as part of its (...)

4Yet the sector is by no means healthy across the board, with an increasing number of financially fragile resorts hit by deteriorating snow conditions. A significant moment came in 2021, when the resort of Métabief in the Jura region announced plans to end ski operations by 2030–2035, and more recently, announcements of closures at Alpe du Grand Serre (Isère), Notre-Dame-du-Pré (Savoie) and Le Grand Puy (Alpes-de-Haute-Provence) have further highlighted the realities faced by resorts and their local authorities, as well as the keen media interest in these situations. In this context, a number of studies have criticised some of the strategies adopted by resorts, describing them as “maladaptive” (Schipper, 2020; Scott et al., 2022; Bérard-Chenu et al., 2024), or calling for degrowth in tourism (Bourdeau and Berthelot, 2008; Métral, 2025) as a potential viable alternative to the current model. This article explores the concept of degrowth from the perspective of its relevance for analysing the evolution of ski resorts. It centres on the case study of the Saint-Pierre-de-Chartreuse/Le Planolet (SPC-LP) resort, which illustrates ongoing dynamics in mid-altitude Alpine mountain territoires. SPC-LP was established in the early 20th century, and is a medium-sized village resort located within the Chartreuse Regional Natural Park (PNRC), close to the urban areas of Grenoble, Chambéry and Voiron, at an altitude of between 900 and 1,800 metres above sea level. At one time its ski area comprised 14 lifts and 26 runs, but it has been reduced as a result of economic and snow cover challenges, with several lifts dismantled or in the process of being dismantled. The recent evolution of the resort has been shaped by a participatory process conducted across the territoire and studied as part of the TranStat research project.4

5In the first section of the article we clarify our positioning within the multidimensional field of adaptation, transition and degrowth as applied to ski resorts. The second section sets out our methodology, and is followed by an analysis of the trajectory of the SPC-LP ski area in the third section. In the fourth and final section we position this dynamic within the broader trajectory of tourism and the territoire.

Degrowth and Mountain Resorts in Transition: Definitions

6Climate change (IPCC, 2023), global biodiversity collapse and the breaching of planetary boundaries have all intensified criticism of globalisation and of the primacy of economic growth, accompanied by the emergence of the ideas of individual and collective well-being and strong sustainability. Within this framework, sustainability transition researchers (Kates et al., 2012; Geels and Schot, 2007) call for “radical, structural and paradigmatic transformations of societies and their subsystems” in order to achieve the desired ecological and social sustainability (Pachoud et al., 2021). These transformations of sociotechnical systems are based on niche innovations at various different levels, as well as on active governance of change, as highlighted by the multi-level perspective (Geels, 2002). The challenge lies in characterising how systems — which are often highly specialised (Turnheim, 2023 — adapt to both internal and external pressures. Yet despite its central role in the academic and public policy spheres, the idea of transition has also been criticised on the grounds that it represents purely a positive horizon and an ideal to be achieved, and is ultimately similar to the discourse of sustainable development (Semal, 2017), without fully accounting for path dependencies (Rouch & George, 2024). The technical and organisational lock-in effects associated with path dependence may, however, constrain the innovative capacities of sociotechnical systems and limit room for manoeuvre as a result of past choices.

7This has led to the emergence of the idea of a degrowth economy (Parrique, 2022). Asara et al. (2015) define degrowth as “a radical socio-ecological transformation away from the pursuit of economic growth towards simpler, more just and more fulfilling lifestyles” (Otero et al., 2024). This definition echoes that of Schneider et al. (2010), who conceptualise degrowth as “an equitable downscaling of production and consumption that increases human well-being and improves ecological conditions at the local and global levels, in the short and long term.”

8The tourism sector has not escaped these developments. At both the global and national levels, a dual movement can be observed: on the one hand, continued growth in international and domestic tourism, as measured by the World Tourism Organization – with France remaining the world’s leading tourist destination, with 100 million international tourist arrivals in 2023 – and, on the other hand, increasing criticism of the role of tourism in increasing greenhouse gas emissions and of its ecological, social and cultural impact more broadly (Fletcher et al., 2019). These observations have fuelled calls for “sustainable tourism” (UNWTO, 2005), along with more radical critiques. Philippe Bourdeau and Libéra Berthelot (2008), for example, seek to deconstruct the idea of tourism as inherently positive, question the inevitability of the growth of the sector, and highlight the analytical potential of the concept of degrowth. More recently, Fletcher et al. (2019) have used overtourism as a starting point for questioning whether a growing tourism sector can in fact be sustainable. Other authors argue that, in a world under constraints, tourism must justify its existence by delivering greater value and addressing human needs as a whole rather than serving specific interests. Within a degrowth-oriented approach to tourism – linked to slow tourism, localism, ecotourism and “buen vivir” – they advocate foregrounding the rights and interests of local communities (Higgins-Desbiolles et al., 2019). Conversely, several authors have highlighted the potential pitfalls of degrowth in tourism, including a retreat into identity or self-sufficiency, and even “tourismophobia” (Bourdeau and Berthelot, 2008), and have stressed the need to address equity issues in order to avoid elitist outcomes (Fletcher et al., 2019; Higgins-Desbiolles et al., 2019).

  • 5 Our translation of “l’évolution de ses modes de fréquentations, se donnant les moyens de rompre ave (...)

9In relation to mountain tourism, and ski resorts in particular, work by Natalie Knowles and Daniel Scott (2024) in the North American context has highlighted the contradictions of the ski industry, and the tendency for transition policies to focus on “low-hanging fruit” without tackling the major transition challenges. They also demonstrate the decoupling of indicators of economic success from those of environmental impact. In France, tourism decline and ghost sites produced by the abandonment of ski lifts have been studied since the late 1990s (Gauchon, 1997), and subsequently documented more systematically by Pierre-Alexandre Métral (2021; 2025). This research emphasises the dynamics of a disruptive transition, with degrowth in skiing characterised by the closure of ski lifts. Other work (Bonnemains and Claeys, 2023) has drawn on the example of Ceüze in the Hautes-Alpes to analyse ski area dynamics at a broader territorial level in order to understand “changing patterns of use, break away from the idea of a ghost resort and identify the bottom-up emergence of new practices”5.

10This tourism-based reading of ski resorts echoes Bourdeau’s (2021) observations regarding the growing prominence of activities relating to mindfulness and celebration, which are gradually replacing the traditional concept of mountain holidays as primarily sports-oriented and focused on skiing. It also aligns with the trend towards diversification, in which skiing is becoming one component of a more comprehensive tourism offer (Achin, 2015; Achin et al., 2018; Massart et al., 2021). Drawing on an analytical framework at the interface of evolutionary economic geography (Boschma et al., 2017) and transition studies (Geels and Schot, 2007), Laura Rouch and Emmanuelle George (2024) describe tourism diversification in ski resorts in the Haut-Chablais and Sancy areas as “a possible path towards a more diversified tourism economy in the mountains” that can be explored “to specify the degree of transition of the mid-mountain territories, as to explain its origin and purpose.”

11However, the ways in which the principles of degrowth in tourism can be applied at different local scales remain underexplored (Fletcher et al., 2019). In our view, forms of degrowth in tourism in ski areas can only be analysed in relation to other tourism and economic activities. Our definition of degrowth in the context of ski resorts and mountain territories dominated by tourism thus consists of the following elements:

  • Major transformation of the winter sports tourism model, involving a reduction in the scale of the ski area (in terms of size and economic significance), tourism and associated flows (including consumption, output, visitor numbers and financial flows);

  • A proactive and democratic approach;

  • An equitable transformation guided by quality-of-life and well-being objectives that go beyond purely economic considerations.

12The level of observation is therefore crucial: in practice, degrowth in ski provision does not necessarily mean degrowth in economic output and/or consumption in the territoire. It is precisely through the interplay between the ski area, tourism and local dynamics that we propose to analyse degrowth as a form of transition. Below, we aim to look at the transition trajectory of the SPC-LP ski resort through the lens of degrowth, so as to assess the relevance of this concept. In particular, we seek to identify forms of degrowth that can be observed in the area studied and the indicators on which we can draw.

Characterising Transition Trajectories Through the Lens of Degrowth: A Systemic, Multi-Level Approach

13Building on this analytical framework, characterising transition trajectories requires a long-term, multi-level and systemic approach. We consider the resort as a unit of leisure and overnight stay (Knafou et al., 1997; Marcelpoil and François, 2012), and our analysis mobilises several spatial levels (from the ski area to the territoire) as well as multiple thematic dimensions (economic, social, environmental and governance).

14To this end, we retrace the trajectory of SPC-LP from its creation to the present, with the dual objective of coming to a diagnosis and considering its potential future. The diagnosis is based on a methodology combining quantitative data, analysis of public policy documents (the Politiques des Espaces Valléens and the Programme Avenir Montagne, as well as policies implemented by the Communauté de Communes [inter-municipal authority] and the PRNC), semi-structured interviews, questionnaires and participant observation. Particular attention is paid to the actor system involved, since the specific modes of governance of French ski resorts (Gerbaux and Marcelpoil, 2006) highlight tourism actors as public actors, while tending to make other categories – such as residents and tourists – less visible. These groups were therefore explicitly included. We conducted 36 interviews with public and private actors, who were selected using the “snowball” sampling methodology (Handcock and Gile, 2011). This sample comprises 20 elected officials at different levels, 11 actors involved in tourism-related activities, and 5 technical officers from local authorities, parapublic bodies and community organisations. The interviews explored their views on the current situation of the resort, tourism and the territoire more generally, and how they saw the future.

15We also conducted 57 interviews with a panel of tourists to capture their practices and representations of the destination. Some of these interviews were conducted with several visitors simultaneously, bringing the total number of interviewees to 102. Contact with respondents was established randomly in the busiest parts of the resort (such as shops, the ski area, the start of hiking trails and the main village square), and interviews were conducted either on the spot or at a later time depending on the conditions and the availability of interviewees. This method enabled us to survey a diverse panel, notably in terms of age, gender, activities practiced and geographical origin.

16In parallel, we conducted research among residents to assess their relationship to the resort, to tourism and to the territoire more broadly. We began by conducting 34 interviews as the basis for developing a questionnaire that was distributed in the municipalities supporting the ski area, for which we collected 326 responses from the municipality of Saint-Pierre-de-Chartreuse, representing approximately half of the village’s adult population. Contact with residents was established both through the snowball method (Handcock and Gile, 2021) and randomly in places frequented by residents (such as shops and the village square). The questionnaire was disseminated via the municipal newsletter, posters with QR codes in various shops and residential locations, letterboxes, local email lists, social media and face-to-face distribution. Due to the very small number of respondents in Saint-Pierre-d’Entremont (Isère and Savoie), we were unable to analyse the results for these municipalities.

17Based on this material, and in connection with the research questions developed in the first section of this article, our approach consisted of identifying, at different levels, indicators that could be used to characterise the situation and evolution of the local area. In light of the literature and available data, we selected the indicators presented in Table 1. These indicators are grouped by both spatial level and thematic focus (ski area, tourism, territoire or multiple levels), as well as by the analytical dimensions considered.

Table 1: Indicators used to analyse degrowth trajectories

Level/dimension

Indicators*

Analysed dimensions*

Ski area

Number and average age of ski lifts

Turnover

Low, medium and high altitude of the ski area

Number of opening days

Number of skier days

Lift pass prices and price trends, target audiences (families, single people, etc.)

- Relationship of local residents and stakeholders to the ski area

Average revenue of €1.4 million over 15 years, ranging from €580,000 to €2 million;

Average of 130,000 skier days;

Average of 73 days of operation;

Structurally loss-making operation;

Debt burden of approximately €2 million;

And certain types of investment unsuitable for the size of the resort

Expansion or contraction of the ski area

Management arrangements (identity of the actor managing the ski lifts, nature of the public service delegation (lease, concession), and type of managing entity

The Communauté de Communes took over responsibility for ski lifts in 2016 and currently has two operators: one is a community organisation (Nouvelles Traces en Chartreuse), which operates five ski lifts at Le Planolet under a five-year agreement, and the other is a private company, La Stass’, which is also operating five ski lifts under a five-year agreement.

Assessment of the governance of the ski area, in particular whether public-private partnerships play an important role

Tourism

Spatial distribution of the tourism offer

Annual distribution of tourism supply and demand:

• Monthly tourist tax income, number of tourist overnight stays

• Number of tourist beds, commercial and non-commercial

• Seasonality of the tourism offer

- Relationship of local residents and stakeholders to tourism

A well-established tourism offering within the Chartreuse Regional Nature Park, with a wide range of activities on offer, including outdoor activities, cultural activities and skiing.

A relatively low number of commercial beds, around 1,400 within the resort and almost double that in second homes.

A shift in the number of overnight stays towards the summer season, with higher tourist tax income during the summer months and at the beginning and end of the season.

Expansion or contraction trajectory of tourism

Nature of the tourism offer and types of service providers

Visitor expectations

Stated policy objectives

Both day visitors and tourists staying overight emphasised their attachment to the markers of winter (snow-covered landscapes, traditional winter dishes), the importance of tranquillity, the landscapes, affordability, “authenticity”, and finally to a destination “that has to be earned” (rejection of developments and appreciation of the fact that “not everything revolves around tourists”).

Type of tourism highlighted in the territoire

Territoire

Place of tourism in relation to other economic activities:

• Place of tourism in relation to other economic activities in discourse and objectives

• Breakdown of the different sectors of activity

Tourism is an important activity. The resort was established in the early 20th century but now aims to improve the visitor experience rather than necessarily to increase visitor numbers.

The economy is diversified, with 4,500 jobs.

Place of tourism in relation to other economic activities in the area

Land prices and trends

Demographic trends and the impact of migration and natural growth

Economic indicators

Similarly, the Coeur de Chartreuse Communauté de Communes has had a positive demographic profile of 45% since 1975, with positive net migration and a negative natural balance for 2018-2023.

Land prices have risen by 50% in SPC over the period 2020-2025, compared to the previous decade which saw stagnant prices per square metre.

Socioeconomic development trajectory of the territoire

Varied/ Cross-functionnal

- Transition process governance:

• Role of planning

• Importance of consultation and the inclusion of residents and socio-professional actors

• Stated objectives of the process

The transition approach is part of the Montagne Autrement process, with associated governance structures: a Coordination Group, Partner Group and General Public Group.

Planned, organised nature of the process and level of participation

* Where data availability allowed, we studied changes in indicators over time (over varying periods depending on the data).

  • 6 These indicators were developed on the basis of the authors’ expertise and the following bibliograp (...)

Own elaboration6

Degrowth of the Ski Area: Forms and Vulnerabilities of a Trajectory

Saint-Pierre-de-Chartreuse: A Typical Medium-Sized Resort

18SPC-LP was established at the beginning of the twentieth century by external actors, the Touring Club de France and the Automobile Club de France, which supported the early tourism initiatives. In the 1930s, local mayor Auguste Villard took over and drove the expansion of the resort, building infrastructure on the Les Essarts and Le Planolet sites. Subsequent developments after the Second World War resulted in a medium-sized ski area (14 lifts and 26 runs), located across the municipalities of Saint-Pierre-de-Chartreuse and Saint-Pierre-d’Entremont in Isère, starting at an altitude of 900 metres and with a highest point of 1,789 metres.

19Over the course of the resort’s history the ski area has been managed by several different actors. It was initially operated independently by the two municipalities via régies [a régie is a structure used by a local authority to manage a public service directly, without creating a separate legal entity], but in 2004 shifted to a new organisational structure with the creation of a Syndicat Intercommunal à Vocation Unique (SIVU) [a legal structure enabling municipalities to pool resources on a specific project], in response to the shortcomings of the existing régies and to support new investment. In 2016 the management model changed again, once more due to operating problems, with responsibility for the ski lifts transferred to the Cœur de Chartreuse Communauté de Communes. These successive changes in operating authorities reflect a downward trajectory for the ski area, as confirmed by a range of indicators. Over the period 1995–2023 it had an average turnover of €1.1 million, with a peak of €2.1 million during the 2008–2009 winter season, not repeated since.

20These economic markers must be considered alongside snow-related issues. Since it starts at an altitude of 900 metres, the ski area is particularly exposed to snow cover variability, and over the period 2015–2023 was only open for 73 days on average, compared with 96 days over the period 1995–2005 (Dianeige, 2006). The area is also affected by a deterioration in snow conditions and an increase in the frequency of winters with low snowfall, and has very limited artificial snowmaking infrastructure (INRAE–Météo France, 2021).

21At the time of the COVID-19 pandemic, the ski area’s unpromising outlook prompted the initiation of a discussion about its future. This proactive participatory process, known as Montagne Autrement 2030, brings together elected officials with socio-professional actors and residents to think about the future of the ski area, and of tourism and the territoire more broadly, by working across different levels (from the Le Planolet and Les Essarts sites to the inter-municipal area). The process is structured around various spaces for dialogue, which are organised into governance circles and led by an external facilitator: a coordination group (mainly composed of elected officials and the manager of the Le Planolet site), which is steering the process; a partner group, which consists of the coordination group plus largely tourism-related actors who are actively helping shape the process; and a general public group, which is mobilised on a less frequent basis to follow the process.

Degrowth in the Ski Area

22For the 2023/2024 winter season, this participatory process led to a partial reopening of the ski area (the five drag lifts at the Le Planolet site; see Figure 1) by a community organisation, Nouvelles Traces en Chartreuse, through an initial one-year emergency Public Service Delegation (DSP) agreement, followed by a new five-year agreement with the Cœur de Chartreuse Communauté de Communes.

Figure 1: The full ski area, with the sites currently in operation highlighted in red

Figure 1: The full ski area, with the sites currently in operation highlighted in red

Produced by the authors based on a document provided by the Cœur de Chartreuse Communauté de Communes.

23From the 2024/2025 winter season onwards, a new private actor, La Stass’, took over the operation of five lifts at the Les Essarts site (see Figure 1), also for a five-year period. In parallel, the Communauté de Communes decided not to reopen the various lifts and gondolas across the ski area, due to the prohibitive cost of the mandatory technical inspections required to operate them. At Le Planolet, the lifts were only in operation for 6 days during the 2023/2024 winter and 66 days during the 2024/2025 winter. At Les Essarts, during the 2024/2025 season, the lifts were open for three weeks, and then intermittently closed and reopened based on snow conditions. The adult day-pass price was set at €15 at each site, compared with the previous price of €26 when the ski area was fully open. The total turnover at Le Planolet came to €140,000 for the 2024/2025 season, well below the average turnover of €1 million for the 2015–2023 period cited above. While the emergence of a second operator and the reopening of five additional lifts in 2024/2025 have the potential to produce a rebound in alpine skiing, these various figures nevertheless point to a downward trend in skiing activity.

24The developments at the Le Planolet and Les Essarts sites shed light on the trajectory (or trajectories) followed by the ski area. The operation of Le Planolet by a community organisation is dependent on the strong involvement of a group of volunteers who are deeply attached to the site and mean that it can be opened when conditions allow, without privatisation of added value and with limited investment. The organisation seeks to ensure the viability of the site in close connection with the Montagne Autrement 2030 process. Managing the resort as a collective good thus aligns with a degrowth process as described by Bram Büscher and Robert Fletcher (2017) and by Fletcher et al. (2019). On the other hand, at Les Essarts, the main actors of La Stass’, who are also passionate about the site, emphasise the objective of “keeping the resort running and allowing locals to ski” (interview with a tourism actor) rather than pursuing growth. Alongside skiing, they aim to develop recreational winter activities such as mountain boarding, artificial slopes and air bagging, with complementary summer activities. Their very limited involvement in the Montagne Autrement 2030 participatory process positions them at a greater distance from degrowth of the ski area.

25These developments have met with substantial opposition on a background of strong economic, cultural and identity-based attachment to skiing and to the resort among part of the local population. However, participants appear to have been able to express these different visions within the Montagne Autrement 2030 process. This participatory dimension is again consistent with the democratic approach to degrowth emphasised by several authors (Schneider et al., 2010; Asara et al., 2015; Parrique, 2022). But while the ski area does now seem to be entering a degrowth phase, we need to follow the dynamics involved over time and across space, for example by examining the viability and complementarity of the initiatives being pursued. Degrowth remains fragile and non-linear: from this perspective, the actual dismantling of certain lifts marks an important milestone in this trajectory.

Tourism: Between Signs of Degrowth and Consolidation of the Model

  • 7 An Espace Valléen

26The degrowth in ski provision cannot, however, be analysed without taking into account the overall trends in tourism in the territoire. While the SPC-LP resort is not comparable to a large high-altitude resort or a “major tourist hotspot” (“haut lieu touristique”) (Géoconfluences, 2011), tourism does play a significant role in both the economy of the mountain range and in how it is perceived by local residents. Ski tourism is by no means the only form of tourism in the area, thanks to a diverse range of activities and a diversification strategy that has been pursued for around fifteen years by the PNRC within the Espace Valléen framework.7

Hints of Degrowth in the Approach to Tourism

27With certain sites in the mountain range facing significant peaks in visitor numbers,8 our research has found that local elected officials and technical officers tend to favour a qualitative approach to tourism policy. Their aim is not to attract more visitors, but rather to promote a range of “modest” tourist sites rather than developing large-scale infrastructure. “The idea is […] not to welcome more people, but to welcome them better”, one local elected official explained in an interview, and the Saint-Pierre-de-Chartreuse tourism plan argues that “in the past a single €10 million site was needed, but in the future we will need ten €1 million sites”.9 This approach is consistent with the expectations of visitors revealed by our research, who describe the area as being relatively quiet and unspoiled, and want it to be protected and to have a positive impact on it through local and responsible consumption. Local initiatives such as the PNRC’s support for slow tourism and activities designed to showcase environmental heritage and local artisans have also promoted the emergence of alternatives to the dominant model. They include the “Pépites en Chartreuse” initiative,10 which encourages visitors to discover artisans and farmers in the area, and its cultural heritage. The nature of both tourism supply and demand, as well as the stated political objectives, thus reflect a desire to moderate flows, and are aligned in certain respects with the principles of degrowth.

  • 11 Re-evaluate, reconceptualise, restructure, relocate, redistribute, reduce, reuse, recycle.

28The territoire, which centres on an agricultural, industrial and artisanal economy, is also relatively economically diverse. Our qualitative research among residents and local actors reveals ongoing questions about the role of skiing, and tourism more broadly, in relation to other activities in the area. While these research participants rarely challenged tourism and its positive impact, they often expressed the idea that tourism should primarily serve the area and its inhabitants, and occupy its “proper place” alongside other economic and residential activities. In the words of one local actor: “The idea [for the territoire] is to create the conditions for good quality of life for residents, while also making it attractive to visitors” (interview with a technical officer). This view also resonates with the concept of degrowth, as discussed for example by Freya Higgins-Desbiolles et al. (2019), who, drawing on Serge Latouche’s “8Rs”,11 argue that tourism should be merely one pillar of a diversified economy that is oriented towards the subsistence and well-being of its inhabitants.

Growth in Tourism in an Attractive Territoire

  • 12 While the COVID-19 period has clearly affected these data, the continued increase in overnight stay (...)
  • 13 Communauté de Communes Coeur de Chartreuse and Barbey Consulting, analysis of tourist tax collectio (...)

29However, observation of a range of indicators shows that these degrowth-aligned elements coexist with the consolidation of tourism in the area. The reduction in dependence on the winter season is being accompanied by an expansion of year-round tourism, with an increase in the overall number of tourist overnight stays between 2020 and 2023 (+44% across the Communauté de Communes as a whole).12 The number of summer overnight stays far exceeds those in winter (24% of overnight stays from January to April, 59% from May to August, and 18% from September to December in 2023, across the Communauté de Communes as a whole).13 The declining importance of winter tourism is also linked to the observation that far from declining, the range of tourism activities has expanded, and has done so across the Chartreuse mountain range.

30Within the perimeter of the SPC-LP resort, the Montagne Autrement 2030 process has also encouraged local authorities to seek “replacement” solutions in response to the degrowth in the ski area described above, and thus to identify economic actors who can develop new activities at the Le Planolet and Les Essarts sites, in order to consolidate a year-round tourism offer. At Le Planolet, the municipality of Saint-Pierre-d’Entremont wants to bring in new services such as hospitality and outdoor activities in order to offer ski area users a range of complementary activities to the existing ski offer, in the event of insufficient snow or ski area closure. Similarly, at Les Essarts, the municipality of Saint-Pierre-de-Chartreuse is supporting the development of year-round recreational activities in a bid to increase visitor numbers. Finally, it should be noted that issues related to biodiversity conservation are not substantially addressed in the participatory process concerning the future of the territoire, suggesting a form of continuity in the model of consumption and valorisation of natural resources. These various indicators therefore show that the area is not engaged in a trajectory of tourism degrowth, but rather in a trajectory of consolidation of the model, albeit a diversified one. This echoes the claim by Émeline Hatt and Cécilia Claeys (2024) that transition policies in mountain resorts tend to be envisaged through the lens of local extension of tourism, without challenging the growth and expansion logics characteristic of the winter sports model. A form of path dependence (Martin and Sunley, 2006) can therefore be observed, with diversification that is at least partly connected to the pre-existing model (Boschma et al., 2017).

  • 14 Communauté de Communes Cœur de Chartreuse, local development project, https://coeurdechartreuse.fr/ (...)
  • 15 Insee, RP2010, RP2015 and RP2021.
  • 16 Insee, Système d'information sur la démographie d’entreprises (SIDE), 2020-22.
  • 17 Insee, RP1975-2021.
  • 18 Figaro Immobilier, https://immobilier.lefigaro.fr, retrieved February 25, 2026.
  • 19 INSEE, 2025 population census data.
  • 20 St Pierre de Chartreuse municipal newsletter, July 2025.

31Finally, although the Cœur de Chartreuse Communauté de Communes highlights the need for a moderation-based approach in its local development project,14 these tourism dynamics are embedded in an area characterised by relatively favourable indicators. With a population of 17,000 inhabitants, the Communauté de Communes is experiencing a positive demographic trend, with a positive migration balance (+3.8% overall between 2010 and 202115), favourable economic indicators (+17% in economic establishments between 2018 and 2022,16 with a relatively stable number of jobs17), and rising land prices (+46% between 2020 and 2025 in Saint-Pierre-de-Chartreuse, and +20% in Saint-Pierre-d’Entremont (Savoie) over the same period 18). The municipality of Saint-Pierre-de-Chartreuse specifically has seen an increase in the number of inhabitants to 1,124, compared with an average of 1,000 over the previous decade,19 and in the total number of homes, from 1,064 in 2022 to 1,116 in 2025.20

  • 21 Although, as shown above, tourism continues to play an important role in the region, our research a (...)

32Our research among residents of Saint-Pierre-de-Chartreuse has also highlighted the appeal of the territoire as a place to live, as previously discussed by Hugues François and Sylvain Billet (2010), and the associated shift in residents’ relationships with the territory. As more recent arrivals report being less favourable to consolidation of the ski resort, it would appear that the social changes currently taking place could facilitate the acceptability of degrowth of the ski area – and possibly of tourism more broadly21 – among a growing share of the population. At the same time, the overrepresentation of senior executives and university graduates among these new residents, together with the rise in land prices noted above, reflects an ongoing process of gentrification in rural areas (Richard et al., 2014; Cognard, 2010) and ski resorts (Piquerey, 2016; Drouet, 2024). This process leads both to an increase in the population’s standard of living and to the emergence of potential relations of domination between different groups of residents. If this trend continues, its compatibility with the degrowth framework proposed by Asara et al. (2015) – based on simpler and more equitable lifestyles – could be called into question. This underlines the importance of monitoring growth and degrowth indicators over time and across space, as proposed in Figure 2.

Figure 2: Proposed framework of degrowth indicators

Figure 2: Proposed framework of degrowth indicators

Source: developed by the authors (2025)

Conclusion and Perspectives

33The case study of the SPC-LP resort and its territoire is particularly illustrative of the transitions that are currently taking place in mountain regions. These are by no means self-evident and uniform, with our study revealing the multifaceted nature of the transition, at both the level of the ski area and of the territoire more broadly. To characterise this transition, we have used the concept of degrowth in the context of mountain resorts and regions. This concept is defined by a profound transformation of the winter sports tourism model (a reduced role for the ski area, tourism and associated flows), a proactive and democratic trajectory, and an equitable transformation guided by quality-of-life objectives. Use of this analytical framework reveals different realities at the different levels studied. The profound transformation of the ski area does indeed appear to represent a form of degrowth, resulting from a proactive process led by the local authorities in response to operational and snow cover challenges. But the degrowth of the ski area coexists with a trajectory in tourism – and the territoire more broadly – that several indicators show to be more growth-oriented, even if certain inflections of this trajectory draw on the concept of degrowth.

34Degrowth thus provides a useful lens through which to describe the transition processes at work in mid-altitude mountain resorts. The issue of identifying appropriate indicators of degrowth at the local scale constitutes a major methodological challenge: as demonstrated here, analysing transitions necessarily requires a multi-level spatial perspective. It must also take into account temporal depth, by juxtaposing the short-term and long-term horizons: crisis management on the one hand, and medium- and long-term structural shifts on the other. Finally, these ongoing processes raise questions about their degree of organisation and planning. The examples of SPC-LP, Métabief in the Jura region and other ski resorts show that however well planned a transition may be, it must remain agile enough to incorporate diverse temporalities and to handle contingencies and vulnerabilities linked to human factors. Such approaches must allow for the expression of conflicts over visions for the territoire, which emerge with varying intensity depending on the degree of territorial vulnerability. In doing so, the engagement of local actors in a collective process reflects the capacity of a territory to become a learning territory (Rouch, 2022), while also highlighting the varying extent to which degrowth is equitable (Schneider et al., 2010; Asara et al., 2015): a relevant angle from which to examine the conflicts and social transformation observed.

35From this perspective, comparing SPC-LP with other sites constitutes a relevant avenue for further research, given the diversity of transition trajectories (Elmqvist et al., 2019), some of which are far removed from a degrowth-based approach. This demonstrates the need for continued observation and analysis of these territorial dynamics in areas that include mid-altitude mountain resorts. Similarly, there is a need to document how local actors, in all their diversity, engage locally with discussions about the future of skiing and tourism, and whether they oppose certain trajectories or participate in participatory processes. These questions also relate to the production of resulting scenarios (IPBES, 2016; Swart et al., 2004), the associated narrative frameworks and the extent to which they do or do not align with a degrowth process. Finally, measuring the reality of degrowth requires us to juxtapose different spatial and temporal levels, and to combine quantitative and qualitative data.

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Notes

2 In this article, we use the French concept of territoire, which we choose to retain in French. See Pachoud C., Koop K., George E. (2022) Societal transformation through the prism of the concept of territoire: a French contribution, Environ Innov Soc Transit, vol. 45, pp. 101–113. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eist.2022.10.001.

3 The term “ski bashing” is mainly used by those involved in skiing and tourism to refer to what they consider to be excessive criticism of ski resorts and their development, with slogans such as “skiing is over” or “skiing is a rich person’s hobby”. These slogans offer a counterpoint to the maxim of Domaines Skiables de France, “Le tout ski, c’est fini... mais sans le ski, tout est fini!” [Skiing isn’t everything, but without skiing we’re nothing]. See, for example, https://www.latribune.fr/territoire/2025-01-28/il-faut-tordre-le-cou-au-ski-bashing-a-grenoble-la-ministre-du-tourisme-serre-les-rangs-1016992.html, retrieved February 25, 2026.

4 TranStat is a project funded for three years by the Interreg Alpine Space Programme, as part of its Priority 1 focusing on climate change. It is supported by a consortium of 11 partners and a network of 9 resorts in 5 Alpine countries, and has two missions: to better document the transition processes underway in the 9 resorts, and to help stakeholders to pursue these pathways.

5 Our translation of “l’évolution de ses modes de fréquentations, se donnant les moyens de rompre avec la notion de station fantôme et de saisir l’émergence par le bas de nouvelles pratiques”.

6 These indicators were developed on the basis of the authors’ expertise and the following bibliographical references: Gerbaux and Marcelpoil, 2006; Bourdeau and Berthelot, 2008; Schneider et al., 2010; Asara et al., 2015; Büscher and Fletcher, 2017; Fletcher et al., 2019; Parrique, 2022.

7 An Espace Valléen

is a project-based territory comprising one or several resorts, within which public authorities provide support to develop a diversified tourism offer alongside ski and snow-based activities, with the aim of promoting year-round tourism.

8 The Charmant Som mountain pasture and the Cirque de Saint-Même natural amphiteatre are examples of sites that are very popular in summer. See, for example, https://www.placegrenet.fr/2023/08/19/surfrequentation-des-lacs-et-montagnes-en-isere-vers-des-mesures-de-restriction-ineluctables/610969.

9 Alp’Evasion, Saint-Pierre-de-Chartreuse tourism study, retrieved February 25, 2026.

10 Chartreuse Tourisme website, https://www.chartreuse-tourisme.com/a-voir-a-faire/visites-et-patrimoine/pepites-en-chartreuse-patrimoine-et-savoir-faire/, retrieved February 25, 2026.

11 Re-evaluate, reconceptualise, restructure, relocate, redistribute, reduce, reuse, recycle.

12 While the COVID-19 period has clearly affected these data, the continued increase in overnight stays between 2022 and 2023 (+3%) seems to confirm a growth trajectory beyond the pandemic. It will, however, be necessary to monitor change in overnight stays over the long term.

13 Communauté de Communes Coeur de Chartreuse and Barbey Consulting, analysis of tourist tax collections for 2023 and 2024.

14 Communauté de Communes Cœur de Chartreuse, local development project, https://coeurdechartreuse.fr/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Projet-territoire_CCCC_2023.pdf, retrieved February 25, 2026.

15 Insee, RP2010, RP2015 and RP2021.

16 Insee, Système d'information sur la démographie d’entreprises (SIDE), 2020-22.

17 Insee, RP1975-2021.

18 Figaro Immobilier, https://immobilier.lefigaro.fr, retrieved February 25, 2026.

19 INSEE, 2025 population census data.

20 St Pierre de Chartreuse municipal newsletter, July 2025.

21 Although, as shown above, tourism continues to play an important role in the region, our research among residents shows that a large proportion of them do not work in this sector. It also highlights the fear among some long-time residents that the role of tourism may be challenged by those who have arrived in recent years. However, this challenge appears to be more of a “weak signal” than a reality actually observed among the population.

1 The first two authors were the main contributors to this article.

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Table des illustrations

Titre Figure 1: The full ski area, with the sites currently in operation highlighted in red
Crédits Produced by the authors based on a document provided by the Cœur de Chartreuse Communauté de Communes.
URL http://journals.openedition.org/rga/docannexe/image/17102/img-1.jpg
Fichier image/jpeg, 534k
Titre Figure 2: Proposed framework of degrowth indicators
Crédits Source: developed by the authors (2025)
URL http://journals.openedition.org/rga/docannexe/image/17102/img-2.png
Fichier image/png, 162k
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Emmanuelle George, Mathieu Schoendoerffer, Raffaella Balzarini et Véronique Reynier, « Degrowth as a Form of Transition for Mountain Resorts and their Territoires: The Case of the Saint-Pierre-De-Chartreuse/Le Planolet Ski Resort »Journal of Alpine Research | Revue de géographie alpine [En ligne], 114-1 | 2026, mis en ligne le 10 avril 2026, consulté le 12 mai 2026. URL : http://journals.openedition.org/rga/17102 ; DOI : https://doi.org/10.4000/165gf

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Auteurs

Emmanuelle George

Univ-Grenoble-Alpes, INRAE-LESSEM, 2 rue de la Papeterie, 38402 Saint Martin d’Hères

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Mathieu Schoendoerffer

Univ-Grenoble-Alpes, INRAE-LESSEM, 2 rue de la Papeterie, 38402 Saint Martin d’Hères

Raffaella Balzarini

Univ-Grenoble-Alpes, INRAE-LESSEM, 2 rue de la Papeterie, 38402 Saint Martin d’Hères

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Véronique Reynier

Univ-Grenoble-Alpes, PACTE

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