Understanding Tourism Suppliers’ Resilience to Climate Change in a Rural Destination in Maine

Abstract

ABSTRACT Supplier characteristics influence destination resilience to climate change, but there is limited research applying social resilience theories to this group. Using socio-ecological and psychology resilience theories, we examined how a group of rural, nature-based tourism suppliers enhanced their resilience to climate change. We conducted 17 interviews in the Bay of Machias, Maine, USA to examine how characteristics of tourism suppliers influenced their resilience to climate change. Despite facing socio-economic challenges, suppliers were taking action to adapt to their most pressing climate change threat, flooding, by leveraging their knowledge, skill sets, and social ties. This study suggests that leveraging resources, collaboration, and developing connections to places through livelihoods may enhance the resilience of rural tourism suppliers. We suggest that the framework used in this study has broader applicability to understanding how suppliers can build destination resilience to climate change; however, the destination life cycle phase must be incorporated into resilience considerations.