The effect of climate change in the future development of tourism: a theoretical approach

Climatic change constitutes a phenomenon which is expected to have enormous impact in the planet as well as in every social and economic sector of human activity. Tourism is an important economic sector, on which the economy of many states is based, as the economic indicators such as the GPD and the employment testify. This research paper constitutes an effort to estimate the effects of the climate change in the tourism sector. The coastal and island touristic regions will face the danger of sea level rise and the increase of temperature. The lack of snow and the extreme meteorological phenomena will place in danger the winter tourism in the mountain areas. impacts will also emerge for a number of touristic resources such as water, the urban environment, the natural and cultural heritage. The effects of the climatic change will render certain regions less attractive for the tourists and will elect others. The tourism industry has to realize, that it is necessary to proceed in structural changes in order to adapt in the new conditions and simultaneously revise also its attitude towards decreasing the emission of green house gases that intensifies the climatic change. Public authorities are forced to plan investments and take measures in order to prevent or reduce the negative impact of the climate change in the tourist areas.