Climate change is reshaping the most treasured travel spots around the world, affecting everything from coastal beaches to mountain resorts. As people who travel, understanding these changes will allow us to make conscious decisions in favor of sustainable tourism.
Coastal Destinations: Rising Seas and Eroding Shores
Coastal areas attract almost 80% of global tourism; hence they remain a prime target of climate change. With rising sea levels and increasing intensity of storms, erosion of beaches and destruction of infrastructures result. For example, the Caribbean is under great threat with an estimated 29% of resort properties possibly becoming inundated with a simple rise in sea level of one meter.
Coral Reefs: Fading Under Warmer Waters
Coral reefs are the hot spots of marine biodiversity and tourism, and they are extremely sensitive to changes in temperature. High sea temperatures induce coral bleaching, whereby corals expel the highly important zooxanthellae from their cells, leading to their death. Iconic places, such as the Great Barrier Reef in Australia and the Maldives, are now experiencing coral bleaching on a grand scale, reducing tourist attraction and impacting the fragile marine ecosystem.
Mountain Resorts: Shorter Ski Seasons Ahead
Mountain ranges host some of the most scenic places of outdoor recreation, and climate change casts its shadow on them too. The consequences for these destinations are varied and can be observed in different forms:
Glacial Retreat: Glaciers are an important attraction in many mountainous areas where they're melting fast due to rising temperature regimes. Affected are prime travel destinations such as the Swiss Alps, the Himalayas, and the Andes. The disappearance of glaciers results not only in reduced beauty of these areas but also in disturbance of the water supply affecting local communities and downstream ecosystems.
Altered Snowfall Patterns: The winter tourism destinations that depend on sustained snowfall are experiencing not-withstanding the changing precipitation patterns. Reduced amounts of snowfall and shorter winter seasons greatly affect the skiing resort areas of the Rocky Mountains, the European Alps, and Japan. This change in weather tends to affect the continuity of winter sports and this, in turn, causes economic losses for businesses that rely on seasonal tourism.
Changing Travel Patterns: Seeking Cooler Climes.
The rise in the temperature of the Earth has caused travelers to adapt their plans. According to a survey conducted by the European Travel Commission, 76 percent of European travelers engaged in adjusting their behavior in light of the climate crisis. One-third now avoid the most extreme weather areas, and 17.3 percent, for their part, explicitly avoid extreme heat. This new disposition has facilitated an increasing demand for cooler lands like Scandinavia, with tour operators such as Magnetic North Travel and Intrepid Travel recording an upswing in bookings. Adapting to the New Normal.
Responses to these challenges include sustainable practice, which is gaining momentum, and diversification. For instance, Melia Hotels expects to surpass the profit target for 2024 and further grow in 2025, focusing on the premium market segment.
What Can Travelers Do?
Keep yourself updated: Be aware of climate-related changes in your chosen destinations.
Choose sustainably: Choose eco-friendly accommodation and activities that contribute to conservation.
Be flexible: Try to travel in the off-peak season, relieving pressure on vulnerable destinations.
With a good knowledge of climate change and its effects on travel destinations, we can make choices that keep the charm and integrity of these places for generations to come.
