PT-CAP - Pacific tourism - climate adaptation project

Abstract

Prof. Terry DeLacy (project coordinator, professorial research fellow, CTSR, VU) chaired the workshop and gave an overview of the project. Prof. DeLacy stated the significance of the AusAID funded research by pointing out the importance of tourism to the economic growth and sustainable development of Pacific Island countries and the particular vulnerability to climate change of the tourism sector in South Pacific. Tourism is the largest export sector for most Pacific Island countries and offers great opportunity for economic growth and sustainable development. On the other hand, with its close connections to the environment and climate itself, tourism is highly sensitive to climate change risks similar to agriculture, insurance, energy, and transportation. Pacific tourism is particularly vulnerable to climate change impacts due to the climate sensitivity of the natural environmental assets upon which the industry is based, the industry’s reliance on a long haul travel market threatened by global climate change policy and changing consumer demands and the vulnerability of coastal infrastructure.