How Attractive are The Northern French Alps?
11:00 a.m., Tuesday, Sept. 12, 2006
Cornell Auditorium in Plaster Hall
Admission: free

The Alps have several images. For centuries, the mountains were avoided by travellers and were obviously a harsh, isolated region of high peaks, steep slopes, and isolated valleys, where life was tough at the best of times. (The media still often project a negative image with reports of avalanches, blizzards, or fatal accidents.) The reputation of the Alps changed dramatically during Victorian times, and mountain resorts now attract millions of tourists who come to marvel at the wonders of nature or to enjoy the sports facilities. The local economy, however, is not so well known and the aim of this presentation is to study various aspects of that economy. What do mountain dwellers do for a living today? How have traditional industries fared? To what extent have the service industries developed? Dr. Tatham concluded by attempting to measure whether the Northern French Alps are today an attractive region whether for students, business, or leisure activities.

Dr. Robert Tatham studied in the U.K. and worked in industry before moving to France where he obtained his doctorate at the Sorbonne in Paris. He has lectured for many years at the Université de Savoie at Chambéry, in the heart of the French Alps. He runs a number of international programmes for the IMUS Institute of Management and is interested in further developing the existing IMUS exchange with MSSU.