TOURISM ENDANGERED BY GLOBAL WARMING

James Morris - Oct 16, 2007
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Many destinations face a real problem in future – the global warming. Especially coast destination and ski resorts are threatened by rising sea levels and growing temperature, which are result of the global warming. There is definitely a need for a worldwide solution. The tourism industry is a very important employer and cash generator. Its crash would significantly damage many tourism-based economies, especially those in poor countries. There is already number of tourism players who are preparing for the climate change. They build sea walls or buy snow-making equipment. The threat is no longer hypothetical as last winter many ski resorts faced a serious problems because of the lack of snow. Some industry players managed to adapt quickly and they have changed into spas or they have started to offer hiking, cycling or even horse riding trips. The fact is that the global warming is going to make tourism cost for the industry players more expensive as the cost of heating, cooling, irrigation, food, water and insurance will rise.

 

 

It is supposed that the climate change will result in creation of new tourism destinations. In addition, the tourism seasons are expected to change due to the global warming. For example, tourist operators in hot areas such as the Mediterranean could also focus more on autumn and winter tourism, when heat and wildfire risks would be less acute. Tourism industry players are thinking of many new ways how to avoid the negative effects of global warning on their businesses, nevertheless environmentalists would welcome a drop in number of tourism trips. The fact is that tourism produces some 5 to 6% of the world"s total emissions of carbon dioxide. Most of the emissions come from transport - 40 percent from aircraft and 32 percent from cars-, while accommodation accounts for an estimated 21 percent. However, the number of tourists is unlikely to drop. Experts expect the tourism industry to grow and therefore the carbon dioxide emissions will grow as well. It is expected that the amount of emissions will grow by 150 percent in the next 30 years.

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