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Sustainable Tourism and the Grand Challenge of Climate Change

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  • Daniel Scott

    (Department of Geography and Environmental Management, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1, Canada
    School of Hospitality and Tourism Management, University of Surrey, Guildford GU2 7XH, UK)

Abstract

Global climate change represents a grand challenge for society, one that is increasingly influencing tourism sector investment, planning, operations, and demand. The paper provides an overview of the core challenges climate change poses to sustainable tourism, key knowledge gaps, and the state of preparedness in the tourism sector. As we begin what is widely considered a decisive climate decade, low sectoral preparedness should be highly disconcerting for the tourism community. Put bluntly, what we have done for the past 30 years has not prepared the sector for the next 30 years of accelerating climate change impacts and the transformation to a decarbonized global economy. The transition from two decades of awareness raising and ambition setting to a decade of determined collective response has massive knowledge requirements and necessitates broad sectoral commitments to: (1) improved communications and knowledge mobilization, (2) increased research capacity and interdisciplinary collaboration, and (3) strategic policy and planning engagement. We in the tourism and sustainability communities must answer this clarion call to shape the future of tourism in a decarbonized and post +3 °C world, for there can be no sustainable tourism if we fail on climate change.

Suggested Citation

  • Daniel Scott, 2021. "Sustainable Tourism and the Grand Challenge of Climate Change," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-17, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:4:p:1966-:d:497930
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    3. Scott, Daniel & Gössling, Stefan, 2022. "A review of research into tourism and climate change - Launching the annals of tourism research curated collection on tourism and climate change," Annals of Tourism Research, Elsevier, vol. 95(C).
    4. Yen E. Lam-González & Carmelo J. León & Javier de León & Chaitanya Suárez-Rojas, 2022. "The Impact of Degradation of Islands’ Land Ecosystems Due to Climate Change on Tourists’ Travel Decisions," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(10), pages 1-16, September.
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    6. Vyddiyaratnam Pathmanandakumar & Sheeba Nettukandy Chenoli & Hong Ching Goh, 2021. "Linkages between Climate Change and Coastal Tourism: A Bibliometric Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(19), pages 1-21, September.
    7. Isaac Akomea-Frimpong & Amma Kyewaa Agyekum & Alexander Baah Amoakwa & Prosper Babon-Ayeng & Fatemeh Pariafsai, 2024. "Toward the attainment of climate-smart PPP infrastructure projects: a critical review and recommendations," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 26(8), pages 19195-19229, August.
    8. Pahrudin Pahrudin & Li-Wei Liu & Shao-Yu Li, 2022. "What Is the Role of Tourism Management and Marketing toward Sustainable Tourism? A Bibliometric Analysis Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(7), pages 1-18, April.
    9. Fizah Rajani & Karla A. Boluk, 2022. "A Critical Commentary on the SDGs and the Role of Tourism," Tourism and Hospitality, MDPI, vol. 3(4), pages 1-6, October.
    10. Dandan Yu & Shan Li & Ning (Chris) Chen & Michael Hall & Zhongyang Guo, 2023. "High Temperatures and Tourism: Findings from China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(19), pages 1-14, September.
    11. Ilenia Spadaro & Francesca Pirlone & Fabrizio Bruno & Gianluca Saba & Barbara Poggio & Sabrina Bruzzone, 2023. "Stakeholder Participation in Planning of a Sustainable and Competitive Tourism Destination: The Genoa Integrated Action Plan," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(6), pages 1-30, March.
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    13. Anna Boqué Ciurana & Melisa Ménendez & María Suárez Bilbao & Enric Aguilar, 2022. "Exploring the Climatic Potential of Somo’s Surf Spot for Tourist Destination Management," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(14), pages 1-21, July.
    14. Thomas J. Lampoltshammer & Stefanie Wallinger & Johannes Scholz, 2023. "Bridging Disciplinary Divides through Computational Social Sciences and Transdisciplinarity in Tourism Education in Higher Educational Institutions: An Austrian Case Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(10), pages 1-16, May.
    15. Geng, Yuqing & Zhang, Xiaorui & Gao, Juan & Yan, Yan & Chen, Lingyan, 2024. "Bibliometric analysis of sustainable tourism using CiteSpace," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 202(C).
    16. Martin Vodopivec & Maja Konečnik Ruzzier, 2022. "Opportunities in Identifying and Marketing Windsport Tourism Destinations: High-Resolution Wind Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(24), pages 1-23, December.
    17. Stephen Schweinsberg & Simon Darcy, 2022. "Climate Change, Time and Tourism Knowledge: The Relativity of Simultaneity," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(23), pages 1-13, December.
    18. Larbi Safaa & Ahmet Atalay & Daiva Makutėnienė & Dalia Perkumienė & Imane El Bouazzaoui, 2023. "Assessment of Carbon Footprint Negative Effects for Nature in International Traveling," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(16), pages 1-14, August.

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