Climate Change and International Tourism - Term Paper Example

CLIMATE CHANGE AND INTERNATIONAL TOURISM (Student Name) (Course No.) (Lecturer) (University) (Date) Executive summary The relationship between international tourism and climate change is very important in regional and international economic development. The purpose of this report is to present an overview of prevailing literature on how tourism activities influence environmental changes. The methodology for the research considered the review of literature materials such as books and journals that relate to the topic. Findings from these materials are used to present in the discussion to establish the impact of tourism on climate change. The key words in the report are; international tourism and climate change. Introduction International Tourism is one of the foremost economic sectors that is going through transformation and growth in the contemporary economic development. The tourism industry is viewed as one of the economic activities that is climate sensitive and is greatly affected by environmental changes such as climate change. According to the World Bank, International tourism involves people traveling from their mother country to another country or continent, outside their usual environment, for periods that do not exceed twelve months. The main purpose of international tourism is to visit and explore the region rather than engaging in official activity during the time of visit. (Parry, 2007, 14/25). On the other hand, Environmental changes can be defined as the disturbance that result from human activities or influence that affect the normal functioning of natural processes. The basis of this research work is to determine the environmental disturbances that result from tourism activity as part of economic activity. Climate Change and International Tourism Research has shown that tourism has a direct effect in promoting climate change, as well as climate change having a direct impact on tourism activity all over the globe. The relationship between tourism and climate change is the direct linkage the tourism activities has on the environment. For a long time, the research into the impact of climate change has been concentrated on the water supply, agricultural activities, infrastructural development and natural disasters. However, little concentration has been considered to the tourism industry as one way that influences climate change. Climate change is not a remote future event for tourism activities since the impact of climate change is currently influencing the decisions made in the tourism business. Therefore, the impact of climate change will affect the international tourism destinations, sustainability, and competition. The direct impact of climate change on tourism is determined by the location and sustainability for the diverse range of tourism activities. Therefore, climate change has a straight impact on the provision of natural resources that attract tourism activities. Contribution of Tourism to Environmental Changes / Climate Change There has been a few research work done to identify how international tourism contribute to climate change. However, most of the researchers base their studies on the impact of climate change to tourism activities around the world. The argument can be based on the facts that international tourism may be contributing a minimal amount CO2 emission, and other greenhouse gasses compared to other sectors of the economy. The contribution of tourism to climate change is perceived in a generalized manner in the sense that it has a slight effect on the environment. A major consideration for the effect is based on transportation, energy consumption, and accommodation facilities. Tourism activity in the coastal regions can also damage the water supplies, which is an implication that the activity in the global context is a destruction of natural resources and biodiversity. One of the contemporary changes in the tourism industry is the development of Eco- lodge for accommodation. These accommodation facilities are being constructed from natural materials, which mainly consist of timber. The demand for Eco- lodge as tourism activity, therefore, is a contribution to climate change as it causes the destruction of the natural vegetation that are supposed to reduce the amount of CO2 from the atmosphere (Schott, 2010, 21). Moreover, constructions of these facilities are mainly carried out deep inside natural habitats such as parks and protected areas that harbor wildlife. Therefore, the areas around the construction site will have to be cleared off natural vegetation, which create ecological disturbance and degradation of the ecosystem. Through environmental degradation, the soils will be exposed to agents of erosion such as wind, human, and water. Secondly, international tourists have to use means of transport, including airplanes, vehicles, trains or ships. All these means of transport are required by the tourist to reach various destinations around the world. The means of transport are using fuel that when combusted release CO2 and other greenhouse gasses into the atmosphere. The transport sector, specifically aviation, is known to be making a positive contribution to economic development by creating accessibility to every corner of the world (Daniel, Colin, & Stefan, 2012, 49). However, much of the climatic change issue targets the mode of transport to be the biggest contributor to environmental changes, both the climate and environmental degradation. The issue has found its way into the global debate to combat climate change with adequate measures and policies being developed to reduce the impact of transportation facilities on climate change. Some of the policies have been met with opposition, especially by those countries that are dependent on tourism for economic gain and development (Parry, 2007, 29). Finally, the amount of energy and fuel being consumed by the tourism industry is increasing on a daily basis with the increase in international tourism activities. Traveling from one continent to another, either by air or sea, and then vehicles consume much fuel that is also releasing CO2 in the atmosphere. Moreover, the vehicles the tourist will be using to connect with from one point to another consume more fuel and energy as well. All these touring activities when combined realize that international tourism is consuming more energy that the product contributes to climate change (Susanne &, JohRoutledgen, 2012, 62). Impact of Climate and Environmental Changes on International Tourism International tourism is nature dependent; hence, changes in environmental and climatic condition will definitely affect international and local tourism activities. Climatic changes due to destruction of the environment influence the demand and flow for tourism activities. the impact of climate change such as high temperatures, natural disaster like flood and extinction of wildlife reduce the flow of tourist to particular regions (Nicholls, 2006, 94). Studies have been conducted to come up with models to explain the effect of tourism arrival and departure and the impact that is there before and after. The models factor in variables, which include environmental variables like biodiversity, coastal area coverage, climatic variables like temperature and precipitation. Social and economic variables are also part of the models, which include demographic changes, GDP, and cost of tourism. According to intergovernmental Panel on climate change (IPCC), climatic conditions is an important aspect that is considered by the tourists in making the decision for the areas to be visited. The Tourism Climate Index has also conducted studies to explain the impact that climate change has on international tourism flow. The finding is that, the flow of tourist is predicted by the climatic variables such as temperature. The melting of the glacier due to increasing temperatures contributes to the rising sea level. According to World Tourism Organization, & United Nations Environment Programme, (2008), the rising sea level is making the sandy beaches to disasters hence keeping the tourist away as they explore for new places. To regions that have natural resources such as wild animals, the high temperatures is causing destruction to the natural habitats that are being depended upon by the animals. In many regions, especially in the African continent that is rich in biodiversity and wildlife, there have been natural disasters like prolonged drought and flash floods that destroy the habitats and tourism facilities (Susanne &, JohRoutledgen, 2012, 42). Due to the prolonged drought, some of the animals that serve as tourist attraction are not able to cope up hence end up dying. When such natural resources are wiped out due to climate change, the flow of tourism also changes. Therefore, there is a direct relationship between international tourism and changes to the environment as a result of climate change. Moreover, the causes and the consequences of the climatic changes important in addressing international tourism as an economic activity (Schott, 2010, 86). Predicament of International tourism and climate change Environmental changes, especially climate change is a global issue that is contributed by both the industrial sector and the tourism sector. Various agreements have been formulated to come with strategies or measure that can be applied effectively to help manage the rising challenge of climate change. The demand for tourism is increasing with many people having the desire to explore the world. However, the activity is definitely being affected by the issue climate change and is likely to decline in the near future. The decline is already being felt by the hit countries in Africa like Kenya, Tanzania, and South Africa. Therefore, the international tourist must take a key role in fight against global climate change by making a positive contribution towards environmental restoration of the lost habitats. In the next ten year, the tourism industry is most likely to collapse due to inadequate natural resources to be enjoyed, such as wildlife and water resources (Daniel, Colin, & Stefan, 2012, 93/173). Conclusions Climate change is a reality, and the government, institutions, and social sectors should take an active role in ensuring sustainable development. International tourism as a business should develop a response plan to mitigate and adapt to the pressures and opportunities realized from climate change (Nicholls, 2006, 173). Intensive research is required in the transport sector so that the emissions from the engines can be reduced or eliminated to reduce the amount of CO2 being released into the atmosphere because of tourism activities. Therefore, it is every individual responsibility, of either international or local tourist to maintain the natural environment. References Daniel S., Colin M., & Stefan G. 2012, Tourism and Climate Change: Impacts, Adaptation, and Mitigation. Rutledge Nicholls, S., 2006, Climate Change, Tourism and Outdoor Recreation in Europe, Managing Leisure. Rutledge Parry, M. L., 2007, Climate change 2007: impacts, adaptation, and vulnerability. Cambridge, U.K., Cambridge University Press. Schott, C., 2010, Tourism and the implications of climate change: issues and actions. Bingley, Emerald Group. Susanne B. &, JohRoutledgen E. Hay, 2012, Climate Change and Tourism: From Policy to Practice Tourism, environment, and development. Rutledge World Tourism Organization, & United Nations Environment Programme, 2008, Climate change and tourism: Responding to global challenges. Madrid, World Tourism Organization. Read More