Coolcationing and Climate-Aware Travel a Literature Review of Tourist Behavior in Response to Rising Temperatures

The global tourism landscape is undergoing a marked transformation as climate change intensifies, with extreme heat and rising temperatures increasingly influencing traveler behavior. This literature review synthesizes emerging academic insights on “coolcationing”—a behavioral trend characterized by tourists opting for cooler destinations over traditionally warm locales. Drawing on peer-reviewed studies from environmental psychology, tourism behavior, and climate adaptation, the paper explores how thermal discomfort is reshaping destination preferences, travel timing, and activity choices. The review categorizes the scholarly discourse into three thematic areas: climate-driven shifts in destination selection, psychological and physiological thresholds of comfort, and adaptive strategies by tourism industries. It also evaluates how destination marketers, urban planners, and policy actors are modifying infrastructure, branding, and pricing strategies to accommodate these behavioral shifts. Findings reveal that coolcationing is not a temporary trend but a strategic adaptation to environmental realities. The paper concludes by identifying research gaps and recommending interdisciplinary approaches to climate-responsive tourism planning and governance.