The town is spread across the beautiful valley overlooking the valley floor, among vast pastures and coniferous forests. The driving factor of Valtournenche's economy is undoubtedly tourism, in particular that linked to winter sports, especially alpine skiing.
The town's tourist development is linked to the history of mountaineering and began towards the end of the last century with the opening of the carriage road; Even previously, however, mountaineers and scholars reached the town on foot or on the back of a mule.
Since the 1970s, Valtournenche has also seen a development of its tourist economy, previously linked only to that of the hamlet of Breuil- Cervinia. In 1974, in fact, with the inauguration of the 4-seater Valtournenche-Salette gondola lift, skiers also began to discover the municipal capital as a tourist destination. In 1997 the 4-seater Valtournenche-Salette gondola lift was replaced by a modern 12-seater gondola lift. Subsequently, the first artificial snow systems were built.
In 2006, most of the old ski lifts were dismantled to make way for the modern Motta, Du Col and Bec Carré chairlifts. The artificial snow system was also strengthened, and in 2008 it was also extended to the Gran Pista, allowing the return to Valtournenche on skis even in the event of poor snow.
Today the ski area has 45 km of slopes and is also connected to Breuil-Cervinia, which can be accessed with skis on.