Impact of International Tourism on Climate Change - Report Example

Tourism Research Report Table of Contents Table of Contents 2 Tourism 3 Definition of International Tourism 3 Climate Change in the context of International Tourism 3 The effects of Environmental Change on International Tourism 4 Impact of International Tourism on Climate Change 5 Water based Tourism and International Tourism 5 The next 10 years of Environmental Change and International Tourism 6 Conclusion 8 References 9 Abstract This report examines the environmental and climatic effects on International Tourism. In the past decade issues of climatic and environmental change have been at the forefront. International Tourism has seen massive growth and is a major source of revenue for many countries, communities and businesses the world over. The United Nations World Tourism Organisation forecasts that by 2030 international tourism will exceed 1.8 billion arrivals while the World Travel and Tourism Council estimates that tourism contributed up to 9.6% of the global domestic product and 7.9% of global employment. Several international bodies including the World Economic Forum advance tourism as a means of eradicating poverty and helping to achieve the United Nations Millennium Development Goals. Notwithstanding these noble intentions, international tourism is threatened by changes in the environment and climate that are able to significantly affect travel destinations, reduce international travel and negatively impact on the fate of millions of people worldwide who depend on this sector. It therefore becomes imperative to examine ways in which the negative impacts of climatic changes can be minimised to ensure the survival, growth and sustainability of international tourism. Tourism Definition of International Tourism International Tourism refers to people who travel to a country other than their country of residence for a period not exceeding 12 months. The purpose of travel must be visiting and not commercial. Purposes for visits and include recreation, holiday, medical care, religious reasons, family, sports, meetings and conferences pass by on transit to other countries, stay for longer like students and employees of international organisations, docked foreign vessels and aircrafts and foreign business travellers. International Tourism is a big international economic sector that can help poor countries develop and reduce poverty. Climate Change in the context of International Tourism Environmental change refers to physical and other changes in the environment occasioned by the hand of man or natural ecological processes. It includes natural disasters, human interference or animal interaction. Tourism visits are based on seeing particular aspects of nature which can be altered by man or nature. There is a very complex relationship between tourism and climatic changes. Issues that surround climate change and tourism, include climate change and temporary and geographical changes in the demand for tourism, changes in environment occasioned by climatic changes and the competition in tourist destinations as well as the social and economic issues (Reddy, 2012). International Tourism is a major income earner for many countries and makes significant contribution to their GDP and it can therefore assist in poverty eradication. It then becomes a key part of the economy of Least Developed Countries who are caught between the effects of tourism on their environment and the earnings they receive from tourism. The effects of Environmental Change on International Tourism International tourism is very climate sensitive and is greatly affected by environmental, social and climatic changes (Becken & Hay, 2007). Climate change has enormous effects on Tourism, tourism operators, tourist destinations and tourists. The geographic locations and seasonal changes have a profound effect on tourism. In the later part of this decade conditions for tourism in higher latitude areas are projected to expand and improve while tropical and sub tropical areas are projected to face a decline. The net effect of this is that destinations like Canada, Northern Europe and Russia are projected to witness an increase in tourism numbers while small islands and tropical and sub tropical areas will face a decline. For example tourists are attracted to the Mediterranean region largely by its warm climate. Studies have revealed that this area could become too hot attract tourists by the year 2020 (Hamilton, Maddison, & Tol, 2005). It is expected that tourists might react to this changes in temperature in this area by opting to visit other areas of higher latitude creating a significant shift in tourist destinations. Currently, international travel is dominated by tourists from Northern Europe, Japan, the United States and Canada mostly owing to wealth and affordability. These groups may react to climatic changes in traditional tourist destinations by visiting areas closer to their home countries thus avoiding the hot Mediterranean regions in the process for example (Navara & Tubiana, 2013). Moreover more people will travel out of the hot areas while less will travel to sub-tropical and tropical areas and the Middle East mean that these climate changes envisage a significant shift in the global destinations of tourists. Simultaneously Scandinavian countries are projected to experience increase in international tourism as a result of more stable climates (Scott, Hall & Gossling, 2012). Domestic tourism will increase in countries like Germany and the United Kingdom which have hitherto had huge numbers of International travellers. The outcome would be dire for original tourist destinations. Property prices and foreign exchange earnings will fall as unemployment and poverty levels will rise. Impact of International Tourism on Climate Change Climate change is the greatest challenge to the growth and sustainability of tourism. It alters the quality if tourism locations, natural assets and tourism attractions, operating costs, discretionary wealth and security risks, insurance and transport (Amelung & Nicholls, 2013). Climate and the natural environment, security and travel are key factors in travel and will therefore significantly affect international tourism in the decades to come. Water based Tourism and International Tourism Water sports tourism is in essence an environment and climate sensitive activity. Studies on the ski based industry reveal variations in demand and supply induced by changes in climate. Snow cover, snow water and the traditional Christmas ski seasons are greatly affected by climatic changes. By the middle of this century the ski tourism industry will be at a high risk of natural snow cover which will greatly increase snow making requirements decrease snow making opportunities, shorten ski seasons and reduce the number of ski areas. Snow making will inevitably lead to higher water and energy requirements and costs (BACC Author Team, 2008). When the ski season shortens as a result of warmer winters, snow making will increases to accommodate ski tourists. Climate changes in skiing areas will affect the ski industry, investors, real estate developers, and the surrounding community in terms of employment and visitation levels among others. For example ski or condo owners may be forced to sell their properties. The ability to make snow may shields the ski based industry and protects it from severe environmental ravages. For example ski managers in Austria are reported to have been confident of the survival of their businesses for up to 75 years owing to their ability to adapt and make snow. As a result it may be concluded that the effect of climate change on skiing varies. Particular pockets and not the entire industry are at risk owing to climatic changes. However what is for sure is that the absence of natural snow would have negative influences on ski tourists, result in reduction in their numbers or change of destinations as well as reduction in the number of ski operators. The next 10 years of Environmental Change and International Tourism In recent time’s discussions on International Tourism focused on the costs of travel including fuel, the aviation industry and reduction in emission owing to long haul tourism destinations like New Zealand and the Caribbean and Australia (Schott, 2010). The studies have concluded that there will be a minimal impact on International Tourism and the demand for international travel and international tourism is predicted to increase. However it is important to achieve low reduction levels so as avoid climate change and increase international tourism. Visits to small islands are expected to decrease owing to uncertainty in future carbon and oil prices. There is need for more research in air travel. The perception of long haul tourists of carbon footprint in travel is important because guilt over the impact of jet flights on global warming will adversely affect the tourism sector. With growing global awareness of jet emissions International Tourism is seen as a contributor to global warming owing to the high levels of GHG (Gossling, 2010). Other studies however reveal a denial of these effects. Tourist’s behaviour has largely remained consistent and so far International Tourism has witnessed little change in air travel and change of destinations. Most International Tourists seem to value the personal benefits of flying much more than the expected harm to the environment it will bring. In short presently, consumer attitudes regarding flying do not show any signs of change and are therefore not likely to affect International Tourism. As much as Tourism stakeholders are aware of these climatic changes they are not very concerned about their impacts. Moreover they are optimistic about overcoming these challenges. The history of intentional travel reveals tenacity towards withstanding disaster (Scott & Gossling, 2012). Several examples attest to the ability of this sector to adapt including the 9/11 terrorism attack, natural disasters and the 2008/2009 global financial crisis. On the other hand nobody can boast of the ability to predict the occurrence and impact of future climatic changes as well as the ability of tourism operators and communities to cope (D’Amore & Kalifungwa, 2014). Tourism just like other business sectors cannot be able to predict the future and the sector may face technical, human and financial constraints in adapting to the ravages of environmental and climatic changes. In particular smaller establishments which are the majority in the tourism sector have limited ability to effect changes in infrastructure and integrate climate changes in their business plans owing to financial constraints. Environmental and climatic changes have massive impacts on the environment and for this reason Governments must come in to help assist against massive climatic and environmental effects on tourism. The tourism sector is very sensitive and media coverage alone is able to significantly reduce visits. Several examples come to mind. Tourism numbers in countries that have security concerns dramatically drop and take very long to recover (Hall & Higham, 2005). Worse owing to business concerns affected destinations are slow to acknowledge the effects of climate change so as to safeguard their destination and reputations. A proactive approach would be to acknowledge and address these concerns. Owing to high competition and sensitivity in this sector most operators conceal their strategies of dealing with climatic changes which does little to assuage tourist fears. In cases where they have put in place strategic measures to counter climatic changes they will hide these from the public so as to afford them an advantage. Governments on the other hand have been slow in adapting climatic change strategies owing to lack of awareness and knowledge. Conclusion Climatic change will be a major issue in the future of International Tourism in the coming decade. Developing countries and small islands are at particular risk of declined demand as tourists are likely to opt for higher altitude areas. Security risks, inability to adapt and greater distances will have a profound effect on them and climatic changes will affect their competiveness for tourist destinations and sustainability (Brebbia & Pineda, 2010). It is imperative for tourist destinations to minimise risks associated with changes in climate and create new opportunities brought about by these impacts. Overall the level of preparedness by tourism players and Governments is very low compared to the potential harm that changes in climate pose (UNEP, 2008). More research is necessary to put in place adequate adaptation measures to ensure growth and sustainability. This should be done alongside efforts to make the environment greener. References Amelung, B. & Nicholls, S. (2013) Journal for travel research: implications of global climate change for tourism flows and seasonality. BACC Author Team, (2008). Assessment of climate change for the Baltic Sea basin, Springer Science and Media. Becken, S. & Hay, J. (2007) Tourism and climate change, Multilingual Matters. Brebbia, C. & Pineda, F. (2010) Sustainable tourism, WIT Press. D’Amore, L. & Kalifungwa, P. (2014) Meeting the challenges of climate change to tourism, Cambridge Scholars Publishing. Gossling, S. (2010) Carbon management in tourism, Routledge. Hall, M. & Higham, J. (2005) Tourism, recreation and climate change, Channel View Publications. Hamilton, J., Maddison, D. & Tol, R. (2005) Climate change and international tourism, Global Environmental Change. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, (2014) Climate change 2014: impacts, adaptation and vulnerability: global and sectoral aspects, Cambridge University Press. Navara, A. & Tubiana, L. (2013) Regional assessment of climate change in the Mediterranean, Springer Science and Business Media. Reddy, M. (2012) Tourism, climate change and sustainability, Routledge. Schott, C. (2010) Tourism and implications of climate change: issues and actions, Emerald Group Publishing. Scott, D. & Gossling, S. (2012) Wire climate change: international tourism and climate Change. Scott,D., Hall, M. & Gossling, S. (2012) Tourism and climate change: impacts, adaptation and mitigation, Routledge. UNEP/ (2008) Climate change and tourism: responding to global challenges, Earthprint. Read More