Climate Change and Tourism Business Development

Earth's climate has always fluctuated due to a complex interplay of geological, biological, atmospheric, oceanographic, and astronomical factors. However, climate change in recent decades is largely attributed to human activities. While different regions of the world do not experience uniform changes, there is a strong scientific consensus that all regions need to take measures to mitigate the pace of these changes. Tourism is one of the most critical sectors affected by climate change. The vulnerability of tourism attractions and destinations to environmental risks and events has attracted considerable attention from researchers in recent years. These events occur within an ecological context that is constantly changing under the influence of various drivers. The growing impact of climate change on tourism is being discussed in various dimensions, including the vulnerability of heritage sites, geotourism and ecotourism phenomena, as well as tourism-dependent economies and their potential impacts on local communities. UNESCO has prepared an action document in this regard, proposing the assessment of climate threats, the development of adaptation frameworks, the adoption of mitigation and modification measures, knowledge sharing, capacity building, and awareness raising in tourism destinations. For many regions, climatic elements and natural resources are both the primary element and the main product and attraction of tourism, and as a result, they form an important foundation for tourism economies. Therefore, any change in the environment or climate creates opportunities and threats for the main activities of such regions, including tourism.