Key Tourism Destinations Tackle Climate Change Head-On

A selection of tourism, government and community leaders from five of Australia’s key tourism destinations have identified more than 40 potential tourism-focused climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies to be considered by national research projects in the light of the impacts of climate change on Australian tourism.

The Five Destinations

The five destinations were selected by the Sustainable Tourism Research Centre (STRC) on the basis of their varying degrees of vulnerability. They are:

• Tropical North Queensland (TNQ)
• Kakadu
• Barossa Valley
• Victorian Alps
• Blue Mountains

The Challenges And Opportunities

Using key climate change projections from CSIRO the participants explored the impacts of climate change in the five destinations for 2020, 2050 and 2070.

They identified the challenges and opportunities for tourism in their regions. Some significant common issues across all research regions were identified.

• There are significant knowledge gaps around climate change resulting in a level of uncertainty about adaptation and mitigation.
• Changing landscapes could result in a reduction in tourism demand which would impact the regional economies and community spirit.
• To avoid duplication, there needs to be better communication across all sectors including all levels of government, tourism organisations and businesses, communities and researchers on the likely impacts of climate change and adaptation and mitigation strategies.
• Larger operators who have the resources and a responsibility to shareholders are more likely than smaller operators to be implementing adaptation and mitigation strategies.
• If adaptation and mitigation strategies are to be implemented successfully, they need to be simple, cheap and effective with clear benefits.
• The importance of community needs to be considered in terms of creating, influencing, and contributing to the ‘sense of place’ and making tourism possible.

Why This Study Is Important

CEO of STCRC, Ian Kean, says this national scoping study is particularly relevant given the findings of a recently released report into Australia’s long-term tourism strategy presented to the Federal Minister for Tourism, Martin Ferguson. He says:

“The Minister appointed a Committee to deliver a long-term vision for the Australian tourism industry and that committee identified climate change as a significant industry issue…

This new research provides an overview of key adaptation and mitigation strategies that can provide resilience within the tourism sector, subject to further community and business coordination.”

CEO of the Queensland Tourism Industry Council, Daniel Gschwind, says this latest research from STCRC is essential in guiding climate change adaptation policies and business practices.

“Sound knowledge and understanding must be the basis for any effective response from industry and government to the challenges that lie ahead, particularly with an issue like climate change…

To remain competitive and sustainable, business operators need to know what they will have to deal with. The work that the STCRC has delivered is providing industry-focused information that can be used in business planning, putting us in a stronger position for the future. We cannot afford to go forward blind to the facts – we need relevant research outcomes like this.”

A copy of the Industry Summary – The Impacts of Climate Change on Australian Tourism Destinations is available from Samantha Kume, Communications Executive, STCRC, samantha.kume@crctourism.com.au.

Any comments from regional destinations on this media release?