copyright kalahari management inc. 2003 climate change and ecotourism prepared by carol patterson...

Copyright Kalahari Management Inc. 2003Copyright Kalahari Management Inc. 2003

CLIMATE CHANGE AND CLIMATE CHANGE AND ECOTOURISMECOTOURISM

CLIMATE CHANGE AND CLIMATE CHANGE AND ECOTOURISMECOTOURISM

Prepared by Carol PattersonPrepared by Carol Patterson

Kalahari Management Inc.Kalahari Management Inc.

www.kalahari-online.com email: [email protected] email: [email protected]

(403) 290-0805, Fax (403) 233-9188(403) 290-0805, Fax (403) 233-9188

Prepared by Carol PattersonPrepared by Carol Patterson

Kalahari Management Inc.Kalahari Management Inc.

www.kalahari-online.com email: [email protected] email: [email protected]

(403) 290-0805, Fax (403) 233-9188(403) 290-0805, Fax (403) 233-9188


Climate Change and Climate Change and EcotourismEcotourism

Climate Change and Climate Change and EcotourismEcotourism

Climate change Climate change isis impacting impacting most forms of nature based most forms of nature based tourism experiences and tourism experiences and destinationsdestinations

The World Tourism Organization The World Tourism Organization is convening a conference on is convening a conference on climate change and tourism in climate change and tourism in Tunisia, April 2003Tunisia, April 2003

Climate change Climate change isis impacting impacting most forms of nature based most forms of nature based tourism experiences and tourism experiences and destinationsdestinations

The World Tourism Organization The World Tourism Organization is convening a conference on is convening a conference on climate change and tourism in climate change and tourism in Tunisia, April 2003Tunisia, April 2003


Climate Impacts on Tour Climate Impacts on Tour OperatorsOperators


Lack of snow limits ability to offer Lack of snow limits ability to offer winter experiences e.g. dog sleddingwinter experiences e.g. dog sledding

Low water levels reduces runoff Low water levels reduces runoff needed for whitewater experiences needed for whitewater experiences e.g. kayaking, raftinge.g. kayaking, rafting

Fire hazards can limit hiking, biking, Fire hazards can limit hiking, biking, lodge experienceslodge experiences

Lack of snow limits ability to offer Lack of snow limits ability to offer winter experiences e.g. dog sleddingwinter experiences e.g. dog sledding

Low water levels reduces runoff Low water levels reduces runoff needed for whitewater experiences needed for whitewater experiences e.g. kayaking, raftinge.g. kayaking, rafting

Fire hazards can limit hiking, biking, Fire hazards can limit hiking, biking, lodge experienceslodge experiences



(continued)(continued)



Unseasonable weather can restrict Unseasonable weather can restrict tour operators ability to deliver tour operators ability to deliver advertised products e.g. snow on advertised products e.g. snow on summer wildflower hikes, no snow for summer wildflower hikes, no snow for January ski tripsJanuary ski trips

Impacts on wildlife (e.g. warmer Impacts on wildlife (e.g. warmer waters for fish, change in migration waters for fish, change in migration patterns, decreases in food supply) patterns, decreases in food supply) can limit wildlife viewing can limit wildlife viewing opportunitiesopportunities

High hay prices for horse-based High hay prices for horse-based experiencesexperiences

Unseasonable weather can restrict Unseasonable weather can restrict tour operators ability to deliver tour operators ability to deliver advertised products e.g. snow on advertised products e.g. snow on summer wildflower hikes, no snow for summer wildflower hikes, no snow for January ski tripsJanuary ski trips

Impacts on wildlife (e.g. warmer Impacts on wildlife (e.g. warmer waters for fish, change in migration waters for fish, change in migration patterns, decreases in food supply) patterns, decreases in food supply) can limit wildlife viewing can limit wildlife viewing opportunitiesopportunities

High hay prices for horse-based High hay prices for horse-based experiencesexperiences


Adaptations to Climate Change Adaptations to Climate Change from Tour Operatorsfrom Tour Operators


For operators with a diverse product For operators with a diverse product line, they can substitute activities line, they can substitute activities when weather affects a tourwhen weather affects a tour

Additional interpretation or games Additional interpretation or games can be used to compensate for a can be used to compensate for a lack of thrills (rafting) or wildlifelack of thrills (rafting) or wildlife

Operate for fewer weeks Operate for fewer weeks More attention may be given to More attention may be given to

safety planning to prevent injury or safety planning to prevent injury or loss of life during freak storms, loss of life during freak storms, floods, etc.floods, etc.

For operators with a diverse product For operators with a diverse product line, they can substitute activities line, they can substitute activities when weather affects a tourwhen weather affects a tour

Additional interpretation or games Additional interpretation or games can be used to compensate for a can be used to compensate for a lack of thrills (rafting) or wildlifelack of thrills (rafting) or wildlife

Operate for fewer weeks Operate for fewer weeks More attention may be given to More attention may be given to

safety planning to prevent injury or safety planning to prevent injury or loss of life during freak storms, loss of life during freak storms, floods, etc.floods, etc.






Suspend operations in Suspend operations in anticipation of better climate anticipation of better climate conditions e.g. dog sleddingconditions e.g. dog sledding

Increase prices to cover Increase prices to cover additional costs e.g. hayadditional costs e.g. hay

Change tourism experiences Change tourism experiences to take advantage of new to take advantage of new conditions conditions

Suspend operations in Suspend operations in anticipation of better climate anticipation of better climate conditions e.g. dog sleddingconditions e.g. dog sledding

Increase prices to cover Increase prices to cover additional costs e.g. hayadditional costs e.g. hay

Change tourism experiences Change tourism experiences to take advantage of new to take advantage of new conditions conditions


Longer Term Impacts of Climate Longer Term Impacts of Climate Change Change

Longer Term Impacts of Climate Longer Term Impacts of Climate Change Change

May need to buy May need to buy water e.g. Australian, water e.g. Australian, West Virginia rafting West Virginia rafting companiescompanies

May cease to operate May cease to operate

May need to buy May need to buy water e.g. Australian, water e.g. Australian, West Virginia rafting West Virginia rafting companiescompanies

May cease to operate May cease to operate


ConclusionsConclusionsConclusionsConclusions Tourism by its nature is very dynamic; climate change Tourism by its nature is very dynamic; climate change

seen by many operators as just one more unknown to seen by many operators as just one more unknown to deal withdeal with

Many tourism operators feel that there are other more Many tourism operators feel that there are other more serious threats to their businesses e.g. insurance serious threats to their businesses e.g. insurance changes, political conditionschanges, political conditions

Those operators with the greatest diversity are best Those operators with the greatest diversity are best equipped to deal with the effects of climate changeequipped to deal with the effects of climate change

Some tour operators feel that long term climate change Some tour operators feel that long term climate change will threaten their survivalwill threaten their survival

Tourism by its nature is very dynamic; climate change Tourism by its nature is very dynamic; climate change seen by many operators as just one more unknown to seen by many operators as just one more unknown to deal withdeal with

Many tourism operators feel that there are other more Many tourism operators feel that there are other more serious threats to their businesses e.g. insurance serious threats to their businesses e.g. insurance changes, political conditionschanges, political conditions

Those operators with the greatest diversity are best Those operators with the greatest diversity are best equipped to deal with the effects of climate changeequipped to deal with the effects of climate change

Some tour operators feel that long term climate change Some tour operators feel that long term climate change will threaten their survivalwill threaten their survival

copyright kalahari management inc. 2003 climate change and ecotourism prepared by carol patterson...

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