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Climate Change and Tourism – Responding to Global Challenges
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Coastal areas are especially vulnerable to natural disturbances where loss of habitats, habitat fragmentation and biological invasions may occur. The unique habitats and wildlife of the low-lying Northwestern Hawaiian Islands are threatened by sea level rise, and these islands are important nurseries for popular species such as sea turtles and migratory birds. 380 Increased temperature will affect the incubation and life cycle of loggerhead turtle eggs on the much visited island of Komodo. 381, 382 Higher temperatures skew the sex ratio towards a predominance of females, which may or may not enhance the fertility of the population but any possible beneficial effects will be nullified as nesting opportunities decrease through a loss of nesting beaches due to sea level rise.
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Rising sea levels will have impacts on coastal ecosystems, for example mangrove forests and wetland areas, including the potential squeezing out of habitats especially where coastal margins are backed by areas of intense human use or steep physical terrain which also reduces fresh water availability. 383
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Ecosystems that are already under stress, such as coral reefs that are not adequately protected by coastal zone management plans, will be the most likely to be severely affected by climate change. Corals have shown a high sensitivity to minor increases in temperature, rising sea temperatures will further affect the distribution and survival of these marine resources. 384
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Temporal shifts in seasons may increase the ranges of insects and diseases 385, and affect birdsong 386, 387 and the flowering of plants. 388, 389
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The number of invasive species and their dissemination is likely to increase and already existing invasive species are expected to expand their areas. For example in the Cape Flora region of South Africa, a popular destination for tourists, trees and shrubs from Australia, California and the Mediterranean introduced in the nineteenth century are predicted to become far more prevalent and further threaten the high endemism in the region 390; four out of five protected areas in South Africa are predicted to lose 10–40% of their plant species by the year 2050. 391
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Drought and desertification may occur in tropical and sub-tropical zones, changing patterns of precipitation and evaporation are of critical importance, and extreme flooding will have implications for large areas.
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Increased frequency and magnitude of extreme events such as cyclones and storm surges will result in loss of land area and impacts on nesting colonies and activities for seabirds and turtles, and the migratory patterns of species. 392
Many of these issues are influenced by human-induced activity other than climate-related changes, such as development, shipping, mining and fishing. However, there is evidence that climate change will impact on natural ecosystems in a marked way. 393 The significance of these impacts for tourism is diverse. Natural heritage sites are major attractions for tourism, and climate-induced changes in these environments will impact on tourist activity. Conservation International noted in a report on tourism and biodiversity that “[…] biodiversity [and related aspects] is essential for the continued development of the tourism industry”. 394 However, it also noted the lack of awareness of the often important synergies between tourism development and nature conservation, 395, 396 and the decline of tourism because of climate change could exacerbate conservation challenges in some regions. Cultural heritage includes considerations of built heritage (historic and architectural), archaeological heritage and socio-cultural heritage. Architectural heritage may be affected by climate change in a number of ways. The most obvious is the direct effect of rising sea level on those structures that are near the coast and that may be flooded or damaged by coastal erosion. Increased rainfall resulting in rising water tables will have a effects on the foundations or the fabric of buildings. 397 The drainage of land areas may be affected, with consequent increases in area flooding, with consequences for buildings and accessibility. Architectural heritage can also be affected by increased wind speeds, either through damage to roofs, or through increased wind loading on walls. The latter may adversely affect ruined buildings such as monasteries or tower houses many of which are in exposed locations. In many cases the impacts of climatic conditions will lead to very high costs in order to save world renowned destinations such as Venice. 398
UNWTO, 18 June 2008 Draft