Visiter les glaciers, une forme de géotourisme ? Les cas du Montenvers (Mer de Glace, France) et de Jökulsarlon (Breidamerkurjökull, Islande)

Modern glacier tourism transcends mere aesthetic appeal, integrating geoscientific education and climate change awareness. This study reveals that while glacier tourism often focuses on visual spectacle, it increasingly incorporates the understanding of geopatrimoine (geological heritage) and addresses the rapid impacts of climate change on glacial landscapes. Researchers analyzed interviews with managers and tour operators at two iconic sites: Montenvers (Mer de Glace, France) and Jökulsárlón (Breidamerkurjökull, Iceland). The findings demonstrate that contemporary glacier tourism is a form of geotourism, blending educational value with environmental consciousness. This dual approach highlights the potential for glacier tourism to serve as both a tool for public engagement with geological science and a means to raise awareness about climate-induced landscape transformations.

Bussard, J., Salim, E., & Welling, J. (2021). Visiter les glaciers, une forme de géotourisme ? Les cas du Montenvers (Mer de Glace, France) et de Jökulsarlon (Breidamerkurjökull, Islande). Géo-Regards, 14(1), 139–156. https://doi.org/10.33055/georegards.2021.014.01.139