The role of tourism management in adaptation to climate change – a study of a European inland area with a diversified tourism supply

Abstract

The Carpathian Basin is one of the most vulnerable European regions in terms of potential climate change impacts on biodiversity. Its wide range of tourism activities make it uniquely suitable for assessing the effects of climate change on tourism. This research sought to create a Tourism Adaptation Portfolio (TAP) for the Szentendre micro-region in Hungary and to assemble an adaptation toolbox for current and future use by tourism organizations. The TAP contains practical, easy to implement solutions for key stakeholders in the sector by adaptation type (technology, management, behavior, education, policy). Surveys of local tourism suppliers showed that 70% said they were well informed, largely by the Internet, but 55% admitted to not knowing enough. The methodology outlined here is transferable and the process can be replicated elsewhere, supporting other regions in becoming climate-friendly tourism destinations, creating opportunities for uniquely positioning a region for consumers. The article provides a concise overview of tourism provider attitudes assessed through a questionnaire, shedding light on points of intervention, willingness to pay, main barriers and suitable adaptation instruments. The adaptive capacity of stakeholders is also discussed, which is indispensable for implementing successful practices in adaptation and maintaining the current level of environmental services.

旅游管理作为适应气候变化的职责 – 有着很多不同旅游提供的欧洲内陆地区研究

喀尔巴阡盘地是对潜在气候变化在生态多样性的影响上最脆弱的欧洲区域之一。这里大范围的旅游活动能使该地区对评估气候变化在旅游中的影响来说非常合适。该研究为匈牙利的圣安德烈地区寻求创造一个旅游适应性档案（TAP)并且组装一个为旅游组织现在和将来使用考虑的适应性工具箱。TAP包含了实际的，容易为主要利益相关者根据适应的种类（技术，管理，行为，教育，政策）来实施解决方案。对当地旅游供应者的调查显示出70%的人说他们是被很好地告知的，大部分通过网络，但是55%的人承认他们知道得不够多。这里使用的方法和过程是可以在他处使用的，支持其他的地区成为气候友好的旅游目的地，为消费者打造独特的目的地而创造机会。文章提供了旅游从业者态度的全面审视，是通过问卷调查，为调解，消费意愿，主要障碍和适当的适应性工具提出想法。利益相关者的适应性能力也被讨论到，这对适应和维持环境服务的现在状态的成功案例是不可缺少的。

Keywords:

• climate change
• tourism management
• adaptation portfolio
• regional sustainability
• Carpathian Basin
• Hungary

关键词:

• 气候变化
• 政策工具
• 旅游管理
• 跨学科
• 环境态度
• 适应性档案

Acknowledgements

This study was supported by the János Bolyai Research Scholarship of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences.

Supplemental data

Supplemental data for this article can be accessed here (http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/09669582.2014.969735).

Notes

1. PRUDENCE: Predicting of Regional Scenarios and Uncertainties for Defining European Climate Change Risk and Effects (http://prudence.dmi.dk/public/publications/PRUDENCE%20Final%20report.pdf).

2. ESPON Climate: Climate Change and Territorial Effects on Regions and Local Economies (www.espon-climate.eu).

3. VAHAVA: Changing (Változás)-Impact (HAtás)-Response (VÁlaszadás), a research project supported by the Ministry of Environment and Water and the Hungarian Academy of Sciences (http://www.vahavahalozat.hu/node/545).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Mária Csete

Mária Csete is an associate professor and the head of department at the Department of Environmental Economics, Budapest University of Technology and Economics. She has a PhD degree in environmental management sciences and an MSc degree in engineering management from Budapest University of Technology and Economics, plus an MSc degree in regional and urban development at the Sorbonne – Paris IV. Her research interests include environmental economics, regional and spatial planning, mitigation and adaptation strategies, and local sustainable development and tourism strategies.

Nóra Szécsi

Nóra Szécsi is a PhD student at Budapest University of Technology and Economics, specializing in climate change, tourism and regional sustainability. She has a Bachelor's degree in tourism and hotel management from Budapest Business School, College of Commerce, Catering and Tourism, and a Master's degree in regional and environmental economics from Budapest University of Technology and Economics.