Monte Tamaro

Building a mountain attraction less dependent on snow 

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Climate and nature-related risk: Unreliable snowfall and recurring financial losses from snow-dependent winter tourism
Solution pathway: Business-model change; diversification into activities that do not require snow

Business type: Small mountain-tourism operator
Sector: Tourism, recreation and visitor attractions
Geography: Ticino, Switzerland

In Practice

Monte Tamaro’s management faced repeated losses as inadequate snow undermined its ski business. Legambiente’s 2023 Nevediversa report describes the decision to end skiing in 2003 and dismantle five ski lifts, retaining the cable car to support a different visitor offer. 

The business developed an adventure park, summer toboggan run, zipline, hiking, and mountain-biking opportunities, supported by catering and cable-car access. The EU-funded BeyondSnow project’s 2024 report profiles the transition as a climate-adaptation example and records more than 100,000 visitors between April and September.

The operator’s summer visitor offer continues to feature these activities. The transition created several reasons to visit the mountain while reducing the central role of snow in generating demand. It also reused existing access and landscape assets, although outdoor recreation remains exposed to other weather-related disruptions.

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Why this example was selected

Monte Tamaro appears in both BeyondSnow’s adaptation research and Legambiente’s collection of mountain-tourism responses. These external sources document a substantial change in an operating business, supported by reported visitor numbers and a clearly identified climate pressure. It provides a useful smaller-business example of reassessing a vulnerable revenue model and developing alternatives around assets and capabilities that retain their value. 

Key Lesson

Review the long-term viability of climate-dependent revenue streams. Develop alternative experiences around existing assets and capabilities and assess the different environmental risks and operating requirements that accompany the new offer. 

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