Glacier tourism: a scoping review

Many glaciers worldwide have become popular tourist destinations where a broad range of outdoor recreation- or adventure-based activities, such as glacier hiking, ice climbing or snowmobiling, can be conducted. Despite the growing popularity of glaciers as tourist destinations, up to now only very limited research has been undertaken into this form of tourism. The purpose of this paper is to systematically assess the nature and scope of research into glacier tourism in academic literature and to identify gaps in knowledge in this relatively new field of research. A scoping literature review was conducted of English language academic literature including peer-reviewed articles, reports and academic book chapters, in order to synthesize what is currently known about glacier tourism. From the initially identified 166 sources, 53 sources were ultimately included for review. The greater part of the reviewed literature consists of descriptive empirical studies. The review identified three central themes: perceptions and values of glaciers; the effects of glacier tourism on the social and ecological environment in which it takes place; and climate change and variability. The majority of reviewed studies address the last theme (n = 25). Research on glacier tourism is limited but growing. It deals with a broad scope of topics and addresses glacier tourism in a variety of ways. The literature review demonstrates the need for additional research into several issues, including: (1) designing a coherent conceptual framework that incorporates the main elements of glacier tourism; (2) examining the motives, preferences, experiences and behaviours of glacier tourists, as well as of the motivational push and pull factors of glacier tourism; and (3) conducting cross-area or sub-sector comparative analyses of existing or potential climate-induced impacts on glacier tourism or adaptation strategies and measures. The present study provides a basis for further research in a young and growing research field.