Adaption to climate change : a focus on the tourism sector in Malta

Abstract

Climate change is happening. The main indicators are increased air and sea temperatures and sea level rise IPCC (2007). These changes are not only affecting the ecosystem and the environment around the globe but they are also influencing socio-economic activities. The tourism sector which is both a contributor and a "victim" of climate change is one of the socio-economic sectors which is to be highly impacted. Warmer temperatures are already altering the attractiveness of destinations leading to diversions of tourist flows from Southern to Northern European regions. This raises the need for adaptation. This dissertation looks at the adaptation being undertaken by the tourism sector in Malta in general, with a more specific reference to autonomous adaptation undertaken by the four and five star coastal hotels which tend to be in a more vulnerable strategic position due to their location. The qualitative research method used in this study seeks to determine whether adaptive action is being undertaken by eight of the four and five star coastal hotels interviewed and if the measures undertaken were also cost-effective.