Gurkan Ozer — TRMX
Turkey recently had disastrous earthquakes; such magnitude and energy World has never seen before. Turkish authorities are currently dealing with the aftermath of the deadliest earthquake in a century, which has resulted in a death toll exceeding 45,000 people. This is significant for a severely damaged economy that was already in need of urgent repair. The earthquake hit 10 cities and the region has a rich history that dates back to 10,000 BC, and it’s well-known for its cultural heritage sites and monuments, which attract many tourists. Additionally, cities such as Gaziantep, Kilis, and Hatay are famous for their unique cuisine, making gastronomy tourism a popular choice among both local and foreign visitors in the region. Entire region now requires restoration and reformatting.
Climate change is expected to have significant impacts on global tourism. Rising temperatures, changing precipitation patterns, and sea-level rise can lead to environmental degradation, reduced availability of natural resources, and increased frequency and intensity of natural disasters such as hurricanes, floods, and wildfires, which will all negatively impact tourism destinations. Climate change poses a significant threat to the tourism industry, as it relies heavily on natural resources, and the duration and quality of tourism seasons are determined by climate conditions. Additionally, the tourism industry is a significant contributor to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, which are the leading cause of global warming.
Actually, while considering the past or potential future events, it’s not difficult to foresee that natural disasters will always happen . Even during the Covid-19 epidemic, large cities were the most dangerous locations and the fastest-spreading hotspots for disease. Hence, during the epidemic, some individuals returned to their hometowns, while many tourists found livable areas. Therefore, one major effect of natural disasters will be that locals of endangered disaster zones (such as Istanbul of Turkey) are being replaced by safer zone, cities, meaning people are moving towards those safer zones.
Some of the specific impacts that climate change may have on global tourism include:
- Reduced availability of natural resources: As climate change leads to changes in rainfall patterns, water scarcity may become a problem in some areas. This can affect the availability of water for tourists, which can impact tourism activities such as swimming, boating, and other water-based activities.
- Damage to infrastructure: Climate change can lead to more frequent and severe natural disasters, which can damage tourist infrastructure such as hotels, resorts, and transportation networks. This can cause disruptions to tourism and locals.
- Changes in demand: Climate change can also impact the demand for certain types of tourism. For example, warmer temperatures may lead to increased demand for beach vacations, while extreme heat may discourage travelers from visiting too hot destinations.
- Shifts in wildlife populations: Climate change can cause shifts in wildlife populations, which can impact ecotourism activities. This can also lead to changes in the availability of wildlife viewing opportunities, which can affect the tourism industry.
Overall, the impacts of climate change on global tourism are likely to be complex and varied and will depend on a range of factors including location, tourism activity, and regional climate conditions. However, it is clear that climate change will pose significant challenges for the tourism industry in the coming decades. Therefore, the urgency to increase climate action in the tourism industry remains top priority as emissions may quickly rebound when operations resume. The long-term cost of inaction regarding climate change will exceed that of any other crisis.
In 2020, One Planet Vision for a Responsible Recovery of the Tourism Sector was adopted by UNWTO as a means to ensure a sustainable recovery of the tourism sector from the COVID-19 crisis. At the heart of this vision is a focus on climate action, which includes tracking and reporting carbon dioxide emissions from tourism, advocating for the implementation of science-based targets, expediting the process of decarbonizing tourism operations, and involving the tourism industry in carbon removal efforts. Tourism has to define its own “high-ambition scenario”; a scenario where tourism would transform towards low emission and highly efficient operations.
No transition without transmission in Global Tourism, too!
Renewable energy transmission lines are essential to reducing pollution, protecting climate, and preserving nature. Whole world is being revolutionized by transition of Energy sources and the way we generate and use energy. The green energy sources, new technology energy sources like Hydrogen use, etc. are now being announced as top priorities in the energy sectors. Green Deal will certainly move and force the energy sector even more towards green energy sources and high technology adaption. Coal-fired power is likely to leave the global electricity grid by the mid-2030s, if not earlier. Transmission companies are forced to use as much locally produced manufactured green steel and components for transmission lines as possible.
The phrase “There’s no transition without transmission” suggests that for any change to happen, there must be a transfer or communication of information, ideas, or knowledge. In the context of global tourism, this can be applied in several ways:
- Sustainable Tourism: To transition towards sustainable tourism, it is a must to communicate and transmit knowledge about sustainable tourism practices, environmental conservation, and responsible tourism to tourists, local communities, and tourism industry stakeholders.
- Cultural exchange: Cultural exchange is an essential part of tourism, and it requires communication and transmission of cultural knowledge between tourists and local communities. Encouraging cultural exchange and promoting authentic local experiences can promote mutual understanding and respect between cultures.
- Digital transformation: The tourism industry is the first to adopt digital technologies to enhance the tourist experience and improve operational efficiency. To transition towards a digital tourism industry, there must be communication and transmission of knowledge about digital technologies and their potential impact on the industry.
- Crisis management: The tourism industry is vulnarable to crises such as natural disasters, pandemics, and political instability. Effective crisis management requires timely and accurate communication and transmission of information to tourists, industry stakeholders, and local communities.
Overall, applying the concept of “There’s no transition without transmission” in global tourism requires effective communication and knowledge transfer to promote sustainable tourism practices, cultural exchange, digital transformation, and crisis management.
According to UNWTO:
- It is projected that by 2030, carbon dioxide emissions from tourism-related transportation will increase by 25% from 2016 levels, rising from 1597 Mt of CO2 to 1998 Mt of CO2. This anticipated increase in emissions will account for 5.3% of all man-made emissions in 2030.
- In 2016 and 2030, 80% of all international arrivals comprise intra-regional travel, i.e., travel within the same region, and this is primarily done via air travel, followed by car. On the other hand, travel across regions, accounts for 20% of all travel and is almost exclusively (95%) carried out through air transportation.
- Transport-related emissions from international tourism are expected to grow 45% from 2016 to 2030 (from 458 Mt CO2 to 665 Mt CO2). Transport-related emissions from domestic tourism are expected to grow by 21% from 2016 to 2030 (from 913 Mt CO2 to 1103 Mt CO2).
- Transport-related CO2 emissions of the tourism sector are 22% of the whole emissions from transport.
Therefore, the vision aims to support the development and implementation of recovery plans which contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Paris Agreement. The vision recommends six lines of action to guide a responsible tourism recovery for people, planet and prosperity, namely public health, social inclusion, biodiversity conservation, climate action, circular economy, and governance and finance. With governments and the private sector now focusing on recovery, it is an opportune moment to prioritize the needs of future generations. This calls for adopting a long-term and comprehensive approach to the global challenges we face, which in turn necessitates transitioning towards a more sustainable tourism model that emphasizes social inclusion, environmental restoration, and preservation. Our health and well-being depend on this transition.
Therefore, UN and UNWTO’s involvement created a platform, Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) for hotels and destinations all tourism industry.
Sources:
- TOURISM & CLIMATE CHANGE, (2023),
https://www.oneplanetnetwork.org/programmes/sustainable-tourism/glasgow-declaration/climatechange-tourism#:~:text=Tourism%20%26%20Climate%20Change,the%20cause%20of%20global%20warming. - One Planet Vision for a Responsible Recovery of the Tourism Sector, 2020, UNWTO
https://www.unwto.org/sustainable-development/tourism-emissions-climate-change - Angela Macdonald-Smith ,No transition without transmission: Redman’s new motto, Financial Review,
https://www.afr.com/companies/energy/no-transition-without-transmission-redman-s-new-motto-20220310-p5a3fn
