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Influences of Climate Change on Tourism Development in Small Pacific Island States

Author

Listed:
  • Franziska Wolf

    (Research and Transfer Centre Sustainable Development and Climate Change, Hamburg University of Applied Sciences, 21033 Hamburg, Germany)

  • Walter Leal Filho

    (Research and Transfer Centre Sustainable Development and Climate Change, Hamburg University of Applied Sciences, 21033 Hamburg, Germany
    Department of Natural Sciences, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester M15GD, UK)

  • Priyatma Singh

    (School of Science and Technology, The University of Fiji, Lautoka, Fiji)

  • Nicolai Scherle

    (FOM Hochschule für Oekonomie und Management (FOM), 80335 Munich, Germany)

  • Dirk Reiser

    (Faculty of Society and Economics, Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences, 47533 Kleve, Germany)

  • John Telesford

    (School of Continuing Education, T. A. Marryshow Community College, St George’s, Grenada
    Institute of Island Studies, University of Prince Edward Island, Charlottetown, PE C1A 4P3, Canada)

  • Ivana Božić Miljković

    (Faculty of Business Studies, Singidunum University, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia)

  • Peni Hausia Havea

    (Live & Learn Tonga, Nuku’alofa, Tonga)

  • Chunlan Li

    (Center for Geopolitical and Strategic Studies & Institute for Global Innovation and Development & School of Urban and Regional Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200062, China)

  • Dinesh Surroop

    (Department of Chemical & Environmental Engineering, University of Mauritius, Réduit 80837, Mauritius)

  • Marina Kovaleva

    (Research and Transfer Centre Sustainable Development and Climate Change, Hamburg University of Applied Sciences, 21033 Hamburg, Germany)

Abstract

Tourism-related carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) emissions are a central driver of anthropogenic climate change. At the same time, climate change has both direct and indirect impacts on tourism, varying from damages of tourist assets due to extreme weather events, to losses of biodiversity. Small island developing states (SIDS) heavily depend on international tourism as a source of revenue and income. Therefore, much could be gained by assessing the vulnerability of the SIDS tourism sector and by identifying measures that may assist these islands in their sustainable adaptation efforts. Against this background, this interdisciplinary paper provides a review of tourism development and the implications of its emissions on the global climate, linked with observed and projected influences of climate change in the Pacific region, to explain the growing vulnerability of the overall sector, with a particular focus on SIDS tourism. A description of the effects of COVID-19 on international tourism and its consequences for SIDS complement the analysis. Case studies of two Pacific islands present some evidence of current climate impacts, underscoring the multiple risks small island nations and their tourism sectors face. The paper concludes by stating that some measures may be prioritized by decision-makers, so as to increase the resilience of a transforming tourism sector in SIDS.

Suggested Citation

  • Franziska Wolf & Walter Leal Filho & Priyatma Singh & Nicolai Scherle & Dirk Reiser & John Telesford & Ivana Božić Miljković & Peni Hausia Havea & Chunlan Li & Dinesh Surroop & Marina Kovaleva, 2021. "Influences of Climate Change on Tourism Development in Small Pacific Island States," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(8), pages 1-22, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:8:p:4223-:d:533802
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    2. Steel Rometius & Xiaoxue Wei, 2025. "Blue Horizons for Resilient Islands: Legal–Technological Synergies Advancing SDG 7 and 13 Through the UNCLOS–Paris Agreement Integration in SIDS’ Energy Transitions," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(13), pages 1-20, June.
    3. Pablo Ley Bosch & Óscar de Castro González & Francisco García Sánchez, 2024. "Mass tourism urban destinations and climate change in small islands: resilience to extreme rainfall in the Canary Islands," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 26(4), pages 10765-10785, April.
    4. Cláudia Seabra & Ketan Bhatt, 2022. "Tourism Sustainability and COVID-19 Pandemic: Is There a Positive Side?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(14), pages 1-14, July.
    5. Hale Özgit & Umar Saleem, 2025. "Travel Choice: Is Climate Change a Barrier?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(13), pages 1-20, June.
    6. George Katavoutas & Dimitra Founda & Gianna Kitsara & Christos Giannakopoulos, 2021. "Climate Change and Thermal Comfort in Top Tourist Destinations—The Case of Santorini (Greece)," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(16), pages 1-19, August.
    7. Ky Nam Nguyen & Sarah Baker, 2023. "Climate Change Impacts on UNESCO World Heritage-Listed Cultural Properties in the Asia–Pacific Region: A Systematic Review of State of Conservation Reports, 1979–2021," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(19), pages 1-20, September.
    8. Jorge Marques & Mario Guillo & Enric Bas & Makhabbat Ramazanova & Helena Albuquerque, 2023. "Setting Research Priorities for Effective Climate Change Management and Policymaking: A Delphi Study in Bolivia and Paraguay," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(20), pages 1-15, October.

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