Tourism can be an industry that plays a part in the world market. Actually, some countries' economies derive the majority of their earnings from travel and leisure. The upsurge in specific income and the campaign of different countries with their attractions have brought on the industry to develop. Its progress is also fueled by the ease of transportation as more and more hard-to-reach locations have constructed international airports for easier gain access to. With airports, travelers find it possible to attain far-flung areas and enjoy the wonder of the neighborhood places. Those who come from chilly places would seek warmer locations in the same or different continent. The Northern Europeans, for occasion, would go directly to the countries in the south, like Spain and Italy, to take good thing about the warmer climate. Others would even go as far as Southeast Asia or the Caribbean for their beaches or coral reefs (Bigano et al. 2005, p. 1).
In days gone by several years, there's been a growing matter over the effect of global warming on the weather. All over the world, weather changes have become more evident, triggering flooding and extreme temperatures in different nations. Weather patterns have grown to be unpredictable, which means that summer periods could be lengthened or winter may be longer than typical. These disturbances in the elements and their effect on the environment are significant to the tourism industry. The travel and leisure industry would depend on the predictability of the growing season in order to attract travelers who wish to experience different activities related to the growing season. Those that love snowboarding would visit ski lodges while the water enthusiasts are going to beaches during warmer summer months. But with weather changes, the travel and leisure industry is influenced in various ways. Climate changes can directly or indirectly influence the local areas, which need to maintain their appeal to foreign guests in order for the industry to flourish.
A. Influences of Weather Change on Tourism
Each tourist vacation spot worldwide has its own appeal. This may come from the activities it provides to site visitors, like snowboarding or golf, or it can come from their natural splendor or what mother nature has to offer. It's important that each vacation spot should hold on to its charms to keep the vacationer industry booming. Another essential aspect to keep tourism alive is that of convenience. Areas that become broken or inaccessible lose their elegance, causing tourists to get other unspoilt or reachable areas. With climate change, the beauty of the neighborhood vacation spots is threatened while ease of access too may become a problem specially when airports, streets and bridges are demolished during extreme weather disturbances. The various impact of climate changes on the travel and leisure industry will be discussed in the succeeding sections.
(i) Coral Bleaching: Affects SCUBA Tourists
Scuba diving is one of the very most popular activities that stimulates the development of travel and leisure. Areas with comprehensive and diverse coral reefs would draw in tourists from different countries to explore the wonders of the underwater world. However, environment changes in recent years have caused damage to the oceans and the reefs. Within the Philippines, a country that is blessed with various diving sites, the warming of the sea especially from the El Nino happening resulted from what is known as coral bleaching. Coral bleaching results to the death around 49% of live coral. In addition, the bigger amount of dissolved CO2 means that corals, mollusks and shells are also ruined along the way (Ocean History Philippines 2009). Without these organisms and animals underwater, the diving industry in this land will suffer. The diving audience does not have any reason to go to the Philippines if its corals and sea life will continue steadily to experience devastation.
Maldives is a different country that would be severely influenced by weather changes. Just like the Philippines, it also has abundant coral reefs that are at risk of being damaged because of coral bleaching. Divers who visit Maldives specifically for its coral would lose grounds for visiting the island. The same is true for all your other diving areas worldwide. They might all go through the lessening of the number of visitors to their places. Travellers who are into diving may choose to stay static in their places of source or pursue other alternatives if there aren't enough corals in the world still left that are well worth their time (Viner and Agnew 1999, p. 16).
(ii) Coastal Flooding and Erosion
A more pressing matter of weather changes is the growing of the ocean level. Maldives' elevation is low, meaning the higher the ocean level rises, the more likely will the island be overwashed with surprise surges. It is estimated that Maldives could be removed from the map in the next 30 years if the sea level continues to rise unabated. Not only will the country's travel and leisure become affected but the whole island would go away (Viner and Agnew 1999, p. 17).
The Bahamas is another popular vacation spot among tourists because of its temperate climate and its own pristine beaches. However the warming brought on by climate changes will negatively impact the island. Just like the Maldives, the Bahamas is also vulnerable to surprise surges, which can get worse with the rising of the sea level. Its freshwater physiques are also turning brackish because of the encroachment of the seawater. Flooding and coastal erosion will greatly impact the tourism industry of the Bahamas because tourism is dependent on the comparative beauty of the coastal areas. Resorts and hotels could be greatly harmed if there are strong storm surges. This island, along with others in the Caribbean, must adapt to climate
changes so that their vulnerabilities are lessened (Smith 2008).
(iii) Threat to Winter Activities: Reduction of Snow Cover
While growing sea levels and coral bleaching threaten tropical islands, the ones that are located in colder regions are faced with an alternative kind of danger brought on by local climate changes. The tourism industry in colder regions are reliant on winter sports, like skiing, The general trend in the weather conditions is that of warming, meaning the summer calendar months could be long and the snow cover would be lower. Without enough snow, traditional skiing resorts will not be able to offer their usual winter activities. Without those activities, tourism will become poor since their visitors would not desire to be stuck in ski resorts with little or nothing to do for the duration of their vacation (Viner and Agnew 1999, p. 19).
In the Prairie Provinces of Canada, which includes Alberta, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan, it is expected that the grassland ecozone will be moving North, and the animals will also move with the ecozone. Some animals will never be able to adjust to swift changes, which can result to their extinction. Animals aficionados will also follow the game and would not visit the regular places where travel and leisure normally is. An extended summer season is also foreseen, that will threaten the livelihood of ski resort providers, restaurants, and hotels (International Institute for Sustainable Development 1997, p. 9).
Alternatively, cool destinations become more attractive not because of the snowboarding but as a respite from the warming of the already warm areas. People would seek colder places, like North America and Australia. The British and German vacationers, who are believed to be the greatest in the number of overall international travellers, may prefer to remain home because their weather would not be too frosty anymore (Lynas 2003, p. 97). The result of this would be considered a decline in international travel and leisure revenues.
(iv) Uncomfortably High Heat Causes Change in Destinations
While ski resorts are experiencing lower revenues because of shorter times, the ones that are found in warmer climates are also finding it a challenge when temperatures grow to an uncomfortable level. Northern Europeans mostly like to go vacationing during winter in other parts of the world where the weather is usually sunny for most of the year. They would stay outside the house to sunbathe for many hours. However, summer time temperatures are likely to rise above 40 certifications Celsius. This level has already been high for real human to still feel safe. This may already lead to warmth stress and may even cause fatalities due to stroke.
Tourists are not likely to visit the summer places to enough time soaring heat. They could instead go to places that are still cold however, not as cold as their own locations. Alternatively, the holidaymakers may opt to postpone their vacation trips to a later time of the year or take it previously while the heating is not that intense yet (Viner and Agnew 1999, p. 21).
Bigano et al. (2005, p. 8) explained that it is possible for the activity of travelers to shift and for international tourism revenues to be lower. Some locations will take advantage of the shift since visitors would be heading to temperate regions; others will suffer from the movements because of the loss of profits.
(v) Get spread around of Diseases
There a wide range of diseases that thrive on warmer climates. Most of them become propagate or carried abroad that did not have them before as a result of movement of folks and goods. The dengue-carrying mosquito and the malaria-carrying mosquito do not thrive in chilly climates. They are found in tropical countries in Africa and in Southeast Asia. But with the warming of the globe, suitable environments can be designed for them in other nations.
This make a difference travel and leisure because holidaymakers will shun a holiday vacation spot that becomes a source of a fatal health issues. In Spain, for example, the country is seen as a no-risk vacation spot. Meaning, tourists need not get immunized for malaria or the yellowish fever. People can go to Spain and have their fun without worrying about unique diseases. However, malaria has resurfaced in Spain because the local climate changes in the region is becoming well suited for the breeding of the sort of mosquitoes that bring the condition (Viner and Agnew 1999, p. 23).
(vi) Loss of Income for Traveler Destinations
Since weather changes cause heat to rise, the consequence of that would be the melting of snowcaps and the inundation of coastal areas. The melting of snowcaps is going to hurt the ski providers in Japan, Australia, THE UNITED STATES, and the Western Alps. When snow melts, that could cause this inflatable water level to go up, which in turn will flood coastal areas that are extremely appealing to those who prefer to experience the sea. Many of these would deal a huge blow on companies that immediately or indirectly rely upon tourism. The ski resorts will lose customers without enough snow because of their regular activities. The beach resorts will be damaged because of flooding and the natural appeal of the beaches could get destroyed after flooding. People focusing on resorts will lose their careers. The ones that are indirectly influenced by a decline in tourism are the tour guides, the hotels, and the people who derive their income from retailing to travelers or for offering their services.
Of the $735 billion profits made from international tourism, about 1 / 3 of this income went to producing countries that features of beautiful beaches and comprehensive coral reefs. A worsening of local climate change means that developing countries will lose a abundant income source (Balboa 2009).
B. Implication for Travel and leisure Management Policies
Although travel and leisure is a large income source, it can also become the way to obtain pollution that affects the environment and plays a part in climate change. Flights, earth activities, and surface transport all raise the emissions of skin tightening and, which causes the climate to be erratic. This means that the neighborhood governments should put into practice coverage changes so that tourism does not turn into a problem. Toward this end, several tourist destinations worldwide
are already taking methods to avoid worsening environmentally friendly degradation, as well as, preserve natural sights.
The Boracay Island in the Philippines is one of the famous destinations for individuals who enjoy long, shorelines with white and powdery beaches. The neighborhood administration, along with various environmental organizations like Green Peace Solar Generation Junior, has integrated climate-friendly solutions that travellers and resort operators should follow. Included in these are responsible travel and leisure, energy efficiency, and zero waste material. Energy efficiency methods include the use of solar power panels for powering laptops and the use of batteries to use cars and motorbikes (Temblador 2009). The Phuket island of Thailand helps bring about ecotourism since the government is also aware that businesses and people have to radically change how they deal with the environment in order to lessen greenhouse emissions. The Carbon Natural Concept is already in place so that those who find themselves in the island become environmental stewards who protect and preserve the natural resources for the future. The program also calls for businesses and individuals to assess and limit their carbon footprints. If possible, they should focus on net zero emissions (Hot Phuket Villas, n. d. ).
These two instances are just among the local changes initiated by the governments of
areas that are regarded as popular holiday destinations. However, these initiatives are localised and only aimed at protecting local attractions. There is a need to organize efforts among the list of global travel and leisure industry so that long-term solutions are reached. The ones that are in the business should also work with various governments and interest teams so that more countries adapt to the changes that the surroundings needs.
Conclusion
It is undeniable that the planet is experiencing weather disturbances credited to climate changes. Experts assume that environmental harm is one of why this is happening. Tourism is found to be always a contributing factor to climate changes because the movements of folks and their activities while on vacation increase the degree of carbon emissions. The different effects of local climate changes include snowcaps melting, coral bleaching, flooding, and growing sea levels, which are all causing changes to the travel and leisure industry. The more obvious effects include the lowering of the number of holidaymakers in popular destinations where the natural resources, like coral reefs and beaches, have been demolished due to climate changes. It is also predicted that there is going to be a switch in the motion of people away from excessively warm climates to temperate ones, which creates new careers in new places while making the old places suffer economically scheduled to job deficits.
The impact of weather changes on travel and leisure calls for reforms in the prevailing policies that relate with the environment. There is a dependence on local and international assistance so the businesses and people in the sector will be able to adapt to these changes. The tourism industry must adopt options so that natural resources are covered. These measures also needs to contribute to the security of the global environment.
