implications of climate change to tourism business in the caribbean 1 the business of climate...
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Implications of Climate Change to Tourism Business in the Caribbean
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The business of climate change; opportunity or threat to Caribbean industry
Mr. Jason Alexander
This business of Climate Change: threats to & opportunities for the Caribbean threats to & opportunities for the Caribbean Tourism IndustryTourism Industry
Dr. Marlene Attzs and Mr. Jason AlexanderDepartment of Economics, University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, Trinidad and [email protected] ; [email protected]
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CONTENT
Economic Significance of Regional Tourism IndustryClimate change and SIDS
Challenges to the sustainable development of tourism
Climate change and TourismInternational Tourism ResponseRegional Tourism Response
Policy conclusions for Caribbean Tourism Sector
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Economic Significance of Regional Tourism Industry
Antigua & Barbuda
Aruba Jamaica
St. Lucia
GDP 21 13.8 7.7 16.8
Employment
34.6 38 19.1 35.4
Capital Investment
61.2 31 36.8 60.5
Foreign Exchange Reserve
74.3 62.7 31.1 43.3
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Profile of Tourists – CTO ReportsCRUISE PASSENGERS vs. TOTAL TOURIST ARRIVALS TO THE
CARIBBEAN
0
5
10
15
20
25
YEAR
NO. OF TOURISTS (M)
Tourist Arrivals
Cruise Passengers
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Origin of Tourists to CARICOM
PERCENTAGE OF TOURIST BY COUNTRY OF ORIGIN
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
US Canada Europe LACCOUNTRY
% O
F T
OU
RIS
T
1995
2000
2004
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Sustaining the Caribbean Tourism Industry
Sustainable Tourism Development: ‘Minimizes the negative impacts of
tourism development on the natural environment and vice versa with a view to satisfying the goals of intragenerational equity and
intergenerational equity.’ culled from Munasinghe 1993.
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Sustaining the Caribbean Tourism Industry
Two challenges to sustainable development of
the regional tourism industry:
Maintaining tourism industry within the region’s ecological and socio-cultural carrying capacity; Anticipate and adapt to climate change impacts. (reduced emissions and energy consumption within the tourism industry)
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Potential Physical Impacts of Climate Change on Caribbean Tourism
Warmer temperatures in Europe – Caribbean less attractive as a destination for European tourists.
Increase in intensity and frequency of windstorm-related events.
Coral bleaching – impact on the marine flora and fauna that constitute a significant part of the Caribbean tourism product.
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Potential Physical Impacts of Climate Change on Caribbean Tourism
Coastal Erosion
Water supply
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Potential Economic Impacts of CC on Caribbean Tourism Industry
ECONOMIC IMPACT LOW CASE $M
HIGH CASE$M
Reduced Tourism 164.5 500.5
Loss of beaches 83.4 718.1
Facility Replacement 9.1 79.3
Lost dive-, eco-tourism
11.9 36.2
TOTAL 268.9 1,334.1
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Potential Economic Impacts of CC on the Caribbean Tourism Industry
TOTAL DAMAGE AND FREQUENCY OF NATURAL DISASTERS 1990-2006
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
Antigua &Barbuda
Bahamas Grenada Jamaica
Country
Fre
qu
en
cy
of
Na
tura
l E
ve
nts
0200
4006008001000
120014001600
18002000
FREQUENCY
TOTALDAMAGES ($M)
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Insurance Market
Rising Premiums.
Reinsurance Companies cannot absorb
rising cost.
Not building near beaches.
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International Tourism Response : reducing their carbon footprint
HotelsHilton (Energy Efficient Lighting Retrofit Program)InterContinental Thalasso Spa (natural Lighting and an eco-friendly air conditioning system)
AirlineSilver Jet (Mandatory Carbon Neutral Purchasing)Virgin Atlantic (Partner with Boeing to reduce emissions)
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Caribbean Tourism Response: impacts of climate change
HotelsGreening (Caribbean leads the world in Green Globe 21 certified properties – 57.Hotel Mocking Bird Hill (Port Antonio, Jamaica)
AirlineCaribbean Airlines
(Invested in wing tips, Carbon Neutral Company,target to reduce CO2 emissions by 4000-5000tons)
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Conclusions
Actors within Caribbean Tourism Industry
cannot afford to ignore the physical and
economic impacts of CC highlighted at
onset.
(opportunity cost is too high)
We cannot overemphasize the benefits of
mitigation, especially with Natural Disasters.
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Conclusions
Actors need to view their adaptation and
mitigation to Climate Change for what it
is:
1. Energy Saving and
2. Cost Reducing (Hotel Mocking Bird
Hill)
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ConclusionsDemand for Green Tourism by from a
more educated Tourist.
Climate Change presents an
opportunity for the Caribbean Tourism
Industry to position itself as the
GREENEST TOURIST DESTINATION
IN THE WORLD.