Disaster is on the horizon for travel and tourism if we don't start doing things differently

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🗞️ Driving the news: Climate change presents an existential threat to the tourism industry, which accounts for roughly 8% of global GDP and emissions
• The rise in extreme weather events such as heatwaves and wildfires is causing disruptions, leading to cancellations and heightened refund requests

🔭 The context: The summer of 2023 is shaping up to be the hottest ever, making extreme weather events 50% more likely
• These climate changes are causing a 10% drop in tourism in the Mediterranean this summer compared to last year and affecting millions of livelihoods in an industry that includes over 2 million businesses in Europe alone

🌎 Why does it matter for the planet: Tourism, contributing to 8% of global emissions, has a significant impact on climate change
• Efforts by countries like Costa Rica in climate-resilient tourism show a way forward, but global coordination is essential for broader environmental protection

⏭️ What's next: The industry needs to work toward net-zero emissions and bolster resilience to climate shocks, through collaboration across private and public sectors
• This includes boosting transitions through incentives, innovative partnerships, policy mechanisms, and focusing on initiatives that positively impact and restore nature

💬 One quote: "This does not mean halting travel, it means doing so differently, both on the supply and the demand sides. It requires unprecedented collaboration and innovation; only then will tourism have the resilience required for the industry – and the planet – to thrive long into the future." (Gloria Guevara, Chief Special Advisor to the Minister of Tourism of Saudi Arabia)

📈 One stat: Climate change has made extreme weather events 50% more likely, a figure reflecting the increased risk to the travel and tourism industry as well as the greater ecosystem
• Additionally, holiday refund requests are up nearly 18% due to these extreme weather conditions

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