Sport as a Major Player in the Development of Tourism: The History of Mountaineering in the Pelvoux Massif,France, from 1861 to 1914 |
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| Authors: | Pierre-Olaf Schut |
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| Institution: | 1. ACP (EA 3350), Université Paris-Est Marne-la-Vallée, 5 Boulevard Descartes, 77454Champs-sur-Marne, Francepo.schut@free.fr |
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| Abstract: | Tourism and sport are two phenomena that rapidly expanded at the end of the nineteenth century. The latter is often viewed as a service in a system structured by the former, in the way tennis courts or golf courses are established near hotel facilities. Yet, the development of outdoor sports reveals that a tourist territory can be defined by its sports function. Through the example of mountaineering in the French Pelvoux massif, we are going to show that a physical activity may have a major role in determining tourist territories and the local economic growth. This research paper investigates, chronologically and geographically, the expansion of mountaineering in the Pelvoux massif and its spin-off effects on touristic amenities, especially in the development of hotel services, town-and-country planning and communications. This demonstration is based on archives from several alpine societies – the French Alpine Club, the Society of Dauphiné Tourists and the Touring Club de France – as well as on monographs published by mountaineers. |
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| Keywords: | mountaineering tourism town-and-country planning mountain Dauphiné |
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