Analyzing the Effects of Environmental Change on the Tourism Sector

This essay examines the significant impact of climate change and biodiversity loss on the tourism sector. It discusses how shifts in climate patterns, such as increased temperatures and altered weather conditions, affect tourist destinations and travel preferences, leading to potential revenue losses for the hospitality industry. The essay also explores the effects of biodiversity loss, including coral bleaching and damage to natural attractions, which can deter tourists. It highlights various mitigating measures, such as reducing energy consumption, changing destination marketing strategies, and promoting sustainable tourism practices. Furthermore, the essay emphasizes the importance of raising awareness, implementing training programs, and defining natural areas to prevent environmental damage and ensure the long-term sustainability of the tourism industry. The conclusion reinforces the need for adaptation and proactive strategies to address the challenges posed by climate change and environmental degradation.

Running head: CHANGING ENVIRONMENT AND TOURISM
Changing Environment and Tourism
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Running head: CHANGING ENVIRONMENT AND TOURISM
Introduction
Global changes in climate has underwent change in the current age. These changes
bear great influence on the industry of tourism. The two factors that have proved to be
harmful for the hotel industry is climate change and loss of the biodiversity. This essay talks
about the effect that changes in climate along with bio-diversity loss can have on tourism
sector. The essay highlights different methods that can be of help for tourism in facing the
challenges.
Discussion
It has been suggested by different studies that people will like to visit the places that
have high altitude and are situated in the mountainous regions. Tourists who are from the
temperate nation form a major part of those who go on international travel. They will like to
spend the holiday within that of their home country. Winter will be the preferred season when
the tourists will go for vacation. The appealing climate of winter will attract the tourists and
the hospitality industry will face loss because they would not be able to earn revenue from the
tourists (Li et al. 2014). Shift pertaining to the pattern of travelling will have consequences
and more money will be spent on temperate regions. The tourists will end up spending less
amount of money on the nations that are warm. It can prove to be effective in altering flow of
intra-regional tourism when climate is considered to be very important. There is lack of clear
evidence regarding whether climate change can reduce global volume pertaining to tourism.
It can be said that impact on the climate change will however be limited on the basis of the
global platform.
Tourists will react in a holistic manner to the issue of climate change. Demand
pertaining to tourism at the level of region will also be affected on account of the
environmental changes. Change pertaining to global climate can have a bearing on demand of

Running head: CHANGING ENVIRONMENT AND TOURISM
tourism within certain selected destinations (Gössling and Peeters 2015). It can also bring
changes within the regional level where political destabilization might take place. Decision
making process of the tourists will be affected by the notions that people have in relation to
climate changes. It will also have a grave impact on the people who invest in tourism.
Perceptions that people have towards the environmental changes are of significance for
consumers along with that of actual conditions. Media coverage can play a crucial role in
deciding regarding choice of customers. Decline has been brought about in the ski-industry
on account of the changes in climate (MacNeill and Wozniak 2018). There will be less snow-
fall within the ski-resort on account of global warming. Immense heat will be responsible for
keeping the tourists away from the Asian along with Mediterranean regions. The looming
fear that disease will spread in these regions will force the tourists not to visit these areas
(García, Vázquez and Macías 2015).
The tourists will be attracted owing to rich bio-diversity and it will help to bring profit
for the industry pertaining to tourism. The natural beauty of the places will decline due to the
changes taking place in climate and people would not want to visit these places. Rainfall in
less amount can be disastrous for the areas that have rain forests and that of coral reef
(George et al. 2016). The kind of weather that prevails are important for the tourists. It is
found that if the weather is nice then it can help in the performing of an activity and harsh
weather can be an inhibitor in relation to participation. Increase in temperature can lead to
bleaching and this can be harmful for the coral reefs. The suspended sediments increasing in
number can be harmful for plant as well as animal life form (Scott, Hall and Gössling 2016).
These kind of conditions can help in forming “ zooxanthallae” which causes the colour to
move away from the coral. The coral becomes white in colour in the algae and it dies soon
afterwards. Great Barrier Reef helps in bringing profits for tourism but coral bleaching is
occurring since the last twenty years.

Running head: CHANGING ENVIRONMENT AND TOURISM
Mitigating measures are important for tourism and this can help in offering various
business opportunities. Reduction of energy can act as a mitigating measure and changing
destination marketing is important for the tour operators. Shifting in transport from the usage
of car to coach can help in reducing energy consumption. It has been found that increasing
length of stay by tour operator can reduce carbon footprint (Mowforth and Munt 2015).
These can also open the path for different kinds of economic opportunities pertaining to the
destinations.
Tourism being able to address the issue of climate change forms an important aspect
pertaining to sustainable development. Tourism sector should know about the results of
climate change in the different economic sectors that can have a bearing on tourism.
Sustainable tourism can preserve land for that of nature and it can offer other livelihood
options to the people who rely on the use of land. Tourism can help in meeting the emissions
reduction target and it does not involve only carbon offset but also that of strategic energy
saving (Hall et al. 2015). Introduction of the renewable power and investment in that of
energy efficiency can help in the abatement of emission pertaining to tourism.
Accommodation is responsible for 27 % of the emissions and it can help in saving money by
the reduction of emissions. Using of the offsets that can target the challenges pertaining to
fuel-switching can act as a cost-effective strategy. Tourism can raise the awareness and it can
help in motivating people to change long-established practices. Proper definition of the
natural areas and introspecting on capacity limit can help in preventing tourism from
damaging the species (Li et al. 2014). Creative campaigns are also developed by tourism that
can help in raising awareness in relation to bio-diversity.
Conclusion:
The tourists on account of global warming will visit spots only in the winter season
that can lead to loss of revenue. Less snowfall within the ski-resorts can decrease number of

Running head: CHANGING ENVIRONMENT AND TOURISM
visitors in these places. Change in that of medium of transport can be of great benefit in
reducing the use of energy. It has been found that if the tourists will stay at a location for a
long period of time then it can help in reduction of carbon foot print. The tourism will
develop creative campaigns that can prove to be an effective step in augmenting awareness.
Training programs can also prove to be effective in protecting environment.
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Mowforth, M. and Munt, I., 2015. Tourism and sustainability: Development, globalisation
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Running head: CHANGING ENVIRONMENT AND TOURISM
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