More Clouds on the Horizon? Polar Tourists' Weather Tolerances in the Context of Climate Change

Abstract

This article examines high Arctic summer tourists' weather perceptions and tolerances. Given that global warming strikes Arctic regions more forcefully than other parts of the world, an improved understanding of visitors' weather perceptions and responses is imperative for tourism operations in these areas. Evidence from a survey in the Spitsbergen (Svalbard) archipelago shows that visitors are fairly tolerant with respect to present summer season weather conditions, although differences between motivational segments are revealed. Results demonstrate that weather elements such as wind and rather low temperatures have no significant impact on the tourists' overall weather appreciation. Rather, there seems to be a clear dislike of weather elements reducing visibility. Projected climate changes indicate increased precipitation, which is likely to be accompanied by more days and nights with overcast skies. Given tourists' aversion towards weather elements obstructing visual sensations, this may pose some challenges for tourism operators in Spitsbergen (Svalbard) and in other high Arctic destinations.

Key Words:

• Arctic tourism
• Spitsbergen (Svalbard)
• climate change
• weather perception
• weather tolerance
• return intention

Acknowledgements

The authors gratefully acknowledge the contributions of Bente Heimtun, Martin Lohmann and Eirik J. Førland to the survey design.

Funding

This study was mainly funded by the Research Council of Norway through the programme Climate Change and Impacts in Norway – NORKLIMA and the Strategic Institute Programme in Tourism at the Institute of Transport Economics.