Western Maine Tourism Stakeholders' Climate Change Risk Perceptions

Nature-based tourism is one of Maine’s most economically important industries and is especially reliant on the environment. Climate change impacts are projected to alter seasonal tourism, which could potentially increase... [ view full abstract ]

Nature-based tourism is one of Maine’s most economically important industries and is especially reliant on the environment. Climate change impacts are projected to alter seasonal tourism, which could potentially increase summer and decrease winter tourism visitation. Risk perceptions may influence and determine behavior. Research has shown that risk perceptions are shaped by socio-demographic factors, cognitive factors, experiential processing, social structures, and trust in climate change communicators. Few studies have tried to understand how tourism stakeholders perceive their risk to climate change and how those risk perceptions impact behaviors, such as mitigation and adaptation. Assessing stakeholder climate change risk perceptions is crucial for understanding behavioral motivations or barriers to adapt to climate change or mitigate carbon-emitting behaviors. Therefore, the overall goal of this study is to understand climate change risk perceptions amongst tourism stakeholders and potential behavioral responses. A qualitative phenomenological approach is used to assess climate change risk perceptions of tourism stakeholders to the Maine Lakes and Mountains Region, a tourism region in Western Maine, United States that relies heavily on winter tourism and is therefore especially vulnerable to changes in climate. Additionally, mitigation and adaptation strategies currently in place or planned are assessed. To do this, in-depth interviews with stakeholders are being conducted. Gaining an in-depth understanding of stakeholder risk perceptions of climate change in the Maine Lakes and Mountains Region will help identify barriers and facilitators to mitigation and adaptation initiatives to cope with negative impacts and take advantage of potential opportunities. The range of stakeholder perceptions are presented and analyzed in terms of socio-demographic factors, cognitive factors, experiential processing, social constructs, and trust, and how these affect the mitigation and adaptation strategies in place. Reflections on the mitigation and adaptation strategies in place are offered and suggestions for communication outreach strategies are proposed.