Should mountains be turned into amusement parks?

The idea isn’t new, but it bothers environmentalists. Instead, the promoters of suspension bridges and slides see these attractions as a vital part of the mountain economy. (RTS/swissinfo.ch)

The question isn’t new, but it continues to be controversial. How far can a natural landscape be developed for tourists before it loses its beauty?

Suspension bridges, rock climbing walls, zip-lines, downhill bike paths. Some think the mountain landscape is being turned into an alpine Disneyland. This trend has spread everywhere, and Switzerland is no exception.

These attractions are a way for mountain resorts to attract more tourists all year round, by making mountains more accessible and more appealing to a wider public. But to environmentalists these structures are a blot on the landscape.

They might  be willing to let them pass in resorts where the tourist industry has been steadily developed over the years, but for more isolated regions, often under protection, they are waving a red flag.