Download This PaperThe Impact of Climate Change on Domestic and International Tourism: A Simulation Study
28 Pages Posted: 13 Jun 2006 Last revised: 24 Apr 2012
Date Written: June 1, 2006
Abstract
We use an updated and extended version of the Hamburg Tourism Model to simulate the effect of development and climate change on tourism. Model extensions are the explicit modelling of domestic tourism and the inclusion of tourist expenditures. We also use the model to examine the impact of sea level rise on tourism demand. Climate change would shift patterns of tourism towards higher altitudes and latitudes. Domestic tourism may double in colder countries and fall by 20% in warmer countries (relative to the baseline without climate change). For some countries international tourism may treble whereas for others it may cut in half. International tourism is more (less) important than is domestic tourism in colder (warmer) places. Therefore, climate change may double tourist expenditures in colder countries, and halve them in warmer countries. In most places, the impact of climate change is small compared to the impact of population and economic growth. The quantitative results are sensitive to parameter choices, but the qualitative pattern is robust.
Keywords: Climate Change, International Tourism, Domestic Tourism
JEL Classification: L83, Q54
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation
Jacqueline M. Hamilton
Forschungsstelle nachhaltige Umweltentwicklung, ZMK, Hamburg University ( email )
Von-Melle-Park 5
20146 Hamburg
Germany
+49 40 42838 7047 (Phone)
+49 40 42838 7009 (Fax)
