#128 Chamonix: Smart Tourism with a View from the Alps

Recorded live at the ChangeNOW event in Paris, in this last episode of this series, Éric Fournier, Mayor of Chamonix, shares his journey from political consultancy to nearly two decades of local leadership in the French Alps. The conversation explores how lived experience shapes inclusive leadership, highlighting the importance of empathy, visibility, and grassroots engagement in public service. Éric discusses the challenges of managing overtourism and housing scarcity, the urgency of climate action in mountainous regions, and the role of scientific advisory councils, bold regulation, and local resilience in building truly smart, equitable communities.

Episode Overview:

[00:01:32] Teaser Question: “If you had to describe Chamonix in only three words, what would they be?”

[00:03:11] Our guest’s background

[00:05:09] Rethinking tourism for sustainability and resident quality of life

[00:09:57] Managing housing scarcity and the impact of secondary homes

[00:12:11] Regulating hotel development and the shift toward ‘better, not more’

[00:13:31] The role and impact of the Scientific Advisory Council

[00:18:27] Addressing climate change and habitability in mountain territories

[00:20:17] Podcast Segment: Special Shout-Out to environmental associations

[00:21:09] Ending Question: “To you, what is a Smart City?”

 

Like our show? Remember to subscribe and rate it!

Want to join us for an episode? Fill out the form on our Podcast Page.

And for more insights, visit our BABLE Smart Cities Knowledge Hub