Climate Change: Tourism Destination Dynamics

The increasing attention given to the tourism sector within international negotiations on climate change is documented by Hall (2008); and the industry’s potential role in mitigation is explored by Becken in her probe on Climate Change. Here, therefore, I shall outline the ways in which tourist destinations of various types are likely to be affected by climate change, the ways in which they may respond, and the research they will need to inform those responses. In particular, Table 3 of Hall’s probe lists much of the relevant literature currently available, and Table 6 in that review compares the relative frequencies with which more detailed subtopics have been referred to. Further information is available in Hall and Higham (2005); Becken and Hay (2007). As noted by Becken (2008) in her response, however, this does not in itself provide a framework for further analysis; nor does that commentary itself adopt such an aim. Here, therefore, I attempt to provide such a framework, make some predictions, and identify research priorities.