Baltadapt Report # 6 Climate Change Impacts on Coastal Tourism in the Baltic Sea Region

Climate change impacts will have both positive and negative consequences for the tourism industry in the Baltic Sea Region (BSR). Based on existing knowledge and new knowledge obtained as part of the Baltadapt project, this report identifies various aspects of climate change that may impact the tourism industry in the BSR. Research findings on climate change impacts on tourist comfort and behaviour, tourism flows, destinations and activities are reviewed for the BSR. Coastal and cold-climate-dependent tourism are highly vulnerable to climate change-related risks. A future warmer climate can also bring new weather-related opportunities to the BSR. The regions’ tourism industry has longstanding traditions and innovative enterprises; although tourism adaptive capacities with relation to climate change vary in different parts of the BSR. Most vulnerable will be low income regions, less populated.