Identifying the ‘emotional hot buttons’ : tourism, climate change and coastal destinations : problems, challenges, resolutions

Abstract

This paper focuses on current strategic management issues that are critical to the growing complexity of relationships between global tourism, predicted climate change and policies for coastal destination management.

The paper reviews recent published research and discourse on the impacts of climate change such as the physical erosion of coastal tourism infrastructures and, in turn, evaluates the broader consequences for the governance at tourism destinations. The validity and practicality of management options to tackle the complex nature and juxtaposition between tourism growth, climate change and coastal destination management are considered.

Conclusions from the paper aim to demonstrate and discuss the efficacy of current predictions and how tourism infrastructure and destination management issues should be tailored to more strategic policy responses from all key tourism and environmental stakeholders.