Climate change and ski industry in Pamporovo resort, Bulgaria: An exploratory study on the tourists’ perceptions

Studying stakeholder perceptions regarding climate change and their influence on the future development of ski resorts is both important and challenging. Tourists are one of the key stakeholder groups to be taken into account, since understanding their perceptions and reactions to the impacts of climate change is essential to anticipate potential geographic and seasonal shifts in tourism demand, as well as the decline or increase of specific tourism markets. Such studies have been undertaken in different countries but so far not in Bulgaria. In an attempt to fill the gap, this paper presents the results of an exploratory survey among visitors to one of the major Bulgarian ski resorts that was carried out in March 2018. The study results reveal a high level of acceptance of climate change threats worldwide and a moderate denial of the same threats at a local scale. A large proportion of respondents even now substitute the resort with another one and the majority of them see the future of Pamporovo as a four-season destination. The study outcomes are paralleled with results known from previous studies in other countries. Considering the exploratory study limitations, conclusions are drawn regarding the need for further research and methodology refinement.