Bucket lists are being radically revised as travelers swap dream tourist destinations amid a changing climate.
What's going on?
The Global Travel Report on the Global Travel Market released in November found that 29% of travelers from major global markets had forgone visiting a destination in the previous year due to weather concerns.
As the report observes, extreme weather is being exacerbated by human-caused global warming, and places susceptible to wildfires, deadly storms and excessive temperatures are becoming less attractive to vacationers.
In particular, people aged 18 to 34 – classified primarily as Generation Z – were defined as the most likely to change their travel plans due to changing weather conditions, with 43% of this group saying they had reconsidered their plans.
Why is this trend concerning?
Tourism is a key source of income for a number of countries. According to the World Travel and Tourism Councilthe sector's global economic contribution for 2024 is expected to be $11.1 trillion.
To put this into perspective, the WTTC suggests that this equates to one in ten dollars generated globally.
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It is also a key employment sector, with around 348 million tourism jobs globally. A drop in tourist numbers could lead to increased unemployment and a reduction in local authority budgets that benefit residents.
The Global Travel Report references a study from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology that uses “outdoor days” as a way to measure how recreational activities are changing in the context of global warming. Thailand is predicted to have 55 fewer outdoor days by 2100, while Canada will have 23 more. This could prevent people from visiting Thailand due to an increase in the number of days characterized by unbearable heat, while Canada's ski resorts that rely on snow will also be affected by warmer conditions.
Tourism, however, has its problems. Air travel is a notable contributor to planet-warming gases, and poor tourist behavior has impacted historic and natural areas around the world. Additionally, local residents are being deprived of real estate and other essential assets in tourist hotspots, including VeniceItaly; LisbonPortugal; And BarcelonaSpain.
What can be done to change tourist attitudes?
It's not all bad news, since the WTM study highlights that 65% of travelers understand the negative environmental impact that tourism can have. Meanwhile, Booking.com found that 74% of potential customers want more sustainable travel optionsand 65% favor labeled sustainable accommodation.
“Travel is perhaps the industry most exposed to the climate emergency and broader sustainability concerns,” said Juliette Losardo, exhibition director for WTM. “These are issues that are rooted in what travelers want and how the industry operates, but the report highlights some ways the industry can continue to grow while delivering on its commitment to reducing emissions .”
Response on vacationwisely This is not a bad thing – and it may encourage a different type of tourism – but it is also essential to reduce the rate of temperature rise by reducing our production of greenhouse gases.
A sustainability expert provided tips and tricks for reducing your polluting impact when traveling, such as packing light, packing a reusable water bottle and avoiding connecting flights.
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