Living with Climate Change: Climate Change Impacts and Adaptation Factsheets for Australia: Tourism
Author: NCCARF
Year: 2012
The vulnerability of the tourism sector and destinations will depend on the nature of the climate change impact, particularly in the occurrence of extreme events such as droughts, bushfires, cyclones and floods. These events could lead to dramatic declines in visitation and, consequently, high costs for the Australian tourism industry. The vulnerability of Kakadu, the Great Barrier Reef and the Australian Alps is highlighted. This factsheet addresses these issues and discusses potential adaptation practices, options and barriers. For example, tourism operators can reduce dependence on climate sensitive inputs such as energy and water by increasing the fuel efficiency of transport, increasing the use of low emissions energy in accommodation, or reducing water use. Changing the way tourism infrastructure is built can also minimise the risks from flooding, windstorm damage, droughts and bushfires. In terms of the tourism destinations, they will need to include weather-proof core activities. These could imply diversifying away from reliance on natural attractions towards built facilities and social activities, or addressing the physical impacts of climate change itself (e.g. the use of snow making by the skiing industry).
 | View Resource |