TOWARDS SUSTAINABLE TOURISM. Today’s heat will result in tomorrow’s crisis

Weather statistics leave no room for doubt that the summer of 2015 has been the warmest in 40 years. In fact, the temperatures were the highest since records began in Spain and tourism seems to be the only beneficiary of the repeated waves of sustained heat. Or, at least, for now.

Extreme weather is accompanied by a much longer summer season: vacationers on Spanish beaches in April, pleasant bathing in higher­than­normal­temperature waters, packed hotels ... It's better not to think about the flip side: the devastating fall rains, the endangered marine species or a dark future that affects us all. But "taking short­term advantage of climate change is a serious mistake", states Greenpeace.

It also, according to the same NGO, costs Spain more than 100 million euros per year, spent on repairing harbors, seafronts and breakwaters following the storms.

"Tourism is one of the sectors most affected by and vulnerable to the effects of climate change," said Elvira Carles, Director of the Fundación Empresa y Clima [Enterprise and Climate Foundation] who, two years ago in partnership with the University of Barcelona, coordinated one of the most important studies done to date on the effects of global warming.

"In Spain there are three main processes that may occur due to climate change: an increase in extreme weather (torrential rain and extreme drought), a reduction in rainfall and available water volumes, and loss of comfort in the peninsular south and east due to high summer temperatures," points out Carles.

In light of this situation, the forecasts suggest a difficult situation for both Spanish and global tourism. It should not be forgotten that this sector contributes 10% of GDP in both cases; a situation that, if left unremedied, would result in a loss of wealth and competitiveness. "Spain will lose market share worldwide and will see a reduction in visitors who will travel to other destinations with more pleasant climates," explains the Director.

Therefore, and although the motivation is purely economic, "we must take action now".

Carles believes that "in addition to energy efficiency, which is well developed in the tourism sector, we must change the energy model for transport and work much harder on spatial planning". But it is also necessary to offer activities throughout the year, "not just in summer as has been the case until now." The Fundación Empresa y Clima encourages, among other things, changing snow sports for "year­long mountain tourism," based on the premise of "better safe than sorry".

But the relationship between climate change and tourism development is symbiotic. The sector is affected by the climate just as much as it has a responsibility to the environment.

Environmental stewardship is essential at a time of maximum expansion of mass tourism, and this is an area in which non­governmental organizations, governments and the industry itself are working.

Maria José Caballero is Campaign Director at Greenpeace Spain. The organization focuses much of its efforts on promoting sustainable tourism and she assures us that "much progress has been made at the national level and corporate commitment is optimal." 100% of the electricity used by hotel chains such as NH or Meliá already comes from renewable sources. However, much remains to be done if we consider the planet’s other tourist regions.

"Big companies are building resorts beyond our borders that, in many cases, are on the cusp of environmental legality," says Caballero. This is the case of Cabo Cortés, a Mexican idyll on the Baja California peninsula (Pacific Coast), where Spanish company Hansa Urbana planned to build a resort of over 3,800 hectares. "An area bordering Cabo Pulmo National Park which had no respect for biodiversity or the local economy," explains the Director.

The measures taken, in addition to a lack of funding resulting from the crisis, prevented the enormous project, which aimed to develop an area almost the same size as the tourist town of Cancún (México), from going ahead.

"We believe that mass tourism is not incompatible with environmental stewardship but it is important that it meet a number of conditions," said the Greenpeace spokeswoman. In addition, she invites travelers to be "responsible and choose their destinations appropriately" as it is everyone's business.

Some of the guidelines are to "travel to destinations that meet environmental regulations, support the local economy and which are involved in the protection of flora and fauna," says Caballero. Furthermore, the Director invites us to think twice about resort hotels that offer ‘all­inclusive’ packages as “there is rarely any local benefit to the inhabitants of the areas where they are located and they do not encourage, for example, zero­kilometer gastronomy".

Whatever it takes to avoid the Spanish coast, for example, losing an average of 25 meters of beach in 2050, due to the rising sea level washing away any tourist activity along this coveted front line.

COMMENT NOW