Publications and Reports
Impacts of climate change in tourism in Europe. PESETA - Tourism (2009)
Description
This document contains the results of the physical impact assessment for tourism within the context of the PESETA project. Climate change may provoke shifts in tourist flows, with large economic implications. The report details the methodology applied and data used for the physical impact assessment for light outdoor activities and for winter sports. The assessment shows that climate change is projected to have significant impacts on the physical resources supporting tourism in Europe. In the mountainous regions, snow reliability is very likely to decrease further, putting ski resorts at lower altitudes at risk. In summer, southern Europe will experience climatic conditions that are less favorable to tourism than the current climate. At the same time, countries in the North, which are the countries of origin of many of the current visitors of the Mediterranean, will enjoy better conditions in summer, as well as a longer season with good weather. In particular in southern Europe, the worsening situation resulting from deteriorating thermal conditions is further aggravated by increasing water shortages.