Impacts of +2 °C global warming on winter tourism demand in Europe

Under +2 °C warming, the weather-induced risk of losses in winter overnight stays related to skiing tourism in Europe amounts to up to 10.1 million nights per winter season, which is +7.3 million overnight stays additionally at risk compared to the reference period (1971-2000). Among the top four European skiing tourism nations - Austria, France, Italy and Switzerland - France and Switzerland show the lowest increase in risk of losses in winter overnight stays. The highest weather-induced risk of losses in winter overnight stays - in the reference period as well as in the +2 °C scenarios - is found in Austria, followed by Italy. These two countries account for the largest fraction of winter overnight stays in skiing related NUTS-3 regions.