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Fiji has been selected as pilot country for a series of projects to help the tourism sector adapt to climate change. These will be coordinated by the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) in conjunction with…
Fiji has been selected as pilot country for a series of projects to help the tourism sector adapt to climate change. These will be coordinated by the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) in conjunction with UNEP and UNDP and financed by the Global Environment Facility. A similar plan is also being prepared for the Maldives.
The go-ahead for the Fiji project was followed by the staging of a UNWTO workshop for stakeholders in the tourism sector held in Suva from 2-4 May in conjunction with the Ministry of Tourism, a forum which served to identify current and potential impacts of climate change and the policies and capacity building needed to implement adaptation measures.
Island destinations are particularly prone to the effects of climate change as many of them rely on warm waters and long hours of sunshine to attract tourists to their beaches.
Alterations in weather patterns can have a serious impact on the programming of trips, the comfort of tourists and their health. Extreme climatic events can affect natural attractions, with storm surges and rising sea levels eroding beaches and higher sea temperatures bleaching coral. There is also the increased risk of drought and the possibility of physical damage to both people and property.
“UNWTO has been actively working in this field since the organization of the First International Conference on Climate Change and Tourism, held in Tunisia in April 2003, which resulted in the issuing of the Djerba Declaration in conjunction with other UN specialized agencies,” said Gabor Vereczi, Programme Officer in UNWTO’s Sustainable Development of Tourism Department.
“Addressing the impact of climate change on Small Island Developing States has become a priority, given the heavy dependence of their economies on tourism, their high level of vulnerability and their relatively low adaptive capacity”.
“Climate change should not be seen by tourism administrations and businesses as a distant phenomenon, but one that is already affecting destinations and the daily operation of the tourism sector.”
“Basic adaptation measures, such as early warning systems and preparedness for cyclones, or the better use of climate information provided by national meteorological services can make a huge difference in preventing and mitigating climate-related risks and hazards.”
Praising the new project, Napolioni Masirewa, Chief Executive Officer at the Fijian Ministry of Tourism, said it should “provide much needed support to develop a risk management and response strategy for tourism to cope with the adverse impacts of climate change. We hope it will reduce the vulnerability of the tourism sector, and in doing so enhance the sustainability of the natural resources and the quality of life of the people of Fiji.”
He said the project would link in well with national policies such as the Environmental Act, and to ensure consistency the Ministry of Tourism will cooperate with all the key national agencies, including the Department of Environment, National Meteorological Service and National Disaster Management Office. Regional research and development institutions will also be consulted in an effort to create synergies with related projects and activities, he added.
UNWTO will be further addressing the challenges posed by climate change at a conference on “Building Tourism Resilience in Small Island Developing States (SIDS)”, to be held in the Bahamas capital of Nassau from 7-9 June 2006.
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
