Climate Change and The Mediterranean: recognising problems-managing solutions

Andrew Jones

University of Malta

I am currently a senior academic at The University of Malta but have held positions at The University of Wales, International Faculty Cardiff, Swansea Business School and the University of Brunei. I have professional experience in urban and regional planning, business management and tourism at both international, regional and local levels and have been an enthusiastic contributor in teaching environmental, tourism and business management within the UK and internationally. In this respect I have been an active practitioner, researcher and teacher within higher education since 1981 when I first graduated with a BA in Urban and Regional Planning. In my most recent work I have specialized in transnational education – developing and managing collaborative programme provision overseas. In this international capacity I have a range of transnational education experiences with partnership development across Europe, Central, South and South East Asia. In my current positions with both the University of Wales and University of Malta I am involved in the University’s collaborative programmes and partnerships in Greece, China, and India but have also previously been involved with assignments in Hong Kong, Singapore, Uzbekistan, Malaysia, Japan, Germany and the UK. I completed my Ph.D. on research investigating the relationship and tensions between cultural regeneration, the environment and the development of niche markets. As such I have carried out numerous consultancy and research assignments relating to planning, the environment, climate change, coastal tourism, waterfront and economic regeneration and have published a number of industry and academic articles, reports and conference papers. To this end I have travelled widely and have contributed to international conferences in Europe, North America, Asia and Australasia and spent two years as a visiting research fellow at the University of Brunei. I have over twentyfive years of UK higher education experience.

Abstract

Concerns regarding climate change vis a vis tourism have been expressed, by for example (Smithers, 2016, Viner, 2006, EEA,2012, IPCC, 2014). A recent assessment reviewing ‘Disappearing Destinations’ using cases from the Mediterranean and more globally, by Jones and Phillips (2011), has also explored such notions.
With respect to such, it is becoming increasingly important to identify destination management strategies that protect tourism resources and economies against predicted climate change. This is especially pertinent to areas significantly reliant on the tourism industry for their economic and social wellbeing. According to the recent 2014 UNWTO assessment of tourism , Europe still accounts for over 42% of all tourist arrivals and in absolute terms growth was led by Southern and Mediterranean Europe, which reported some 11 million more international arrivals (+6%) in 2013 (UNWTO, 2014) . In this respect tourism provides a significant and often growing contribution to GDP (up to 30%) for such regions. The Mediterranean also provides a fitting example where direct and indirect pressures from climate change are increasingly impacting on the often unsustainable tourism developments along much of the Mediterranean coastline and hinterlands. Islands of the Mediterranean , in this respect, provide fitting examples where, in many cases, over 25% of GDP is reliant on the local tourist economy. Strategies to tackle such challenges are now firmly on the political agenda. In this context this paper will aim to discuss threats to, and consequences of current tourism growth and development and emerging issues associated with risk, natural hazards and resilience measures that are related to current estimations of climate change impact.

This includes an evaluation, through primary case study research, current threats, management issues and consequent policy choices. The paper proposes that public perception and policy implementation often ignore climate change warnings resulting in inadequate or inappropriate management responses. In conclusion integrated sustainable management strategies are considered and advocated for managing tourism destinations and the associated threats from climate change. Recommendations are considered which aim to ameliorate projected impacts on the tourism industries within the Mediterranean.

Authors

Andrew Jones (University of Malta)

Topic Area

Topics: Symposium

Session

OS-A1 » Wellness Tourism and Sustainable Tourism: A Symbiotic Relationship? Part I (09:00 - Monday, 3rd October, Tavolara Room, Santa Chiara Complex)

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