Potential Impact of Climate Change on Beach Tourism in MENA Countries: A Survey Based Study

Abstract

Climate is a principal resource for tourism, as it codetermines the suitability of locations for a wide range of tourist activities, is a principal driver of global seasonality in tourism demand in MENA Countries, and has an important influence on operating costs, such as heating-cooling, snowmaking, irrigation, food and water supply, and insurance costs. Thus, changes in the length and quality of climate- dependent tourism seasons (e.g., sun-and-sea or winter sports holidays) could have considerable implications for competitive relationships between destinations and therefore the profitability of tourism enterprises. A Quantitative Approach-Questionnaire was designed with the aim of travellers to the MENA Countries. It was structured to focus on the role of climate in general as a destination attribute specifically issues of the relationship between weather beach tourism and climate change impacts Results showed that Adapting to climate change requires anticipating change. Some sectors will be better able to plan than others depending on their capacity to adapt. Enhancing this capacity can reduce risks of adverse future impacts. That is why it would be strategic to increase adaptive capacity in tourism sector. To prevent the impact of climate change on coastal tourism and vice versa, a joint organization for MENA tourism should exist and should meet the need of the States, the tourist destinations, the private sector and NGOs to group together and form joint ventures.