1998 was the warmest year ever, which broke the previous record that was set the year before. This would cut ski resorts seasons in half and have a huge effect on tourism. An increase in temperature would also cause precipitation patterns to move north causing the Alps area to become drier. Tourism is vital to many of the countries in the Alps region and the shrinking of the glaciers will have a great impact. We could see many winter sports eliminated from the Alps in 20-30 years if this trend continues.
Tourism is important, but it is also part of the problem.
Tourists bring nearly 50 million vehicles into the Alps every year and the pollution they create is choking the mountain environment. The nations that are in and around the Alps Mountains need to find a halfway point between maintaining tourism and protecting the natural environment or there will be no natural environment left for tourists to visit.