In a report from 2000, the European Commission writes that tourism has a strategic role for urban planning and urban development, and that European cities must work to ensure that they can cater better for both the expectations of tourists and the wellbeing of the urban population. One good example is the City of Göteborg which has developed a clear strategy to attract visitors to the city. This an investment which has evidently paid off. Göteborg won the 2007 Prize as the best tourist organisation in Europe when the European Cities Tourism Awards were distributed for the first time by the organisation European Cities Marketing (ECM).
The city is sensitive to climate change
How will urban tourism be affected by future climate change? Research shows that cities are sensitive to climate change. The expected rise in mean temperature will result in greater heat stress in cities. The temperature in built-up areas is generally higher than in the surrounding countryside, because the ability of building materials to store heat is different from that of natural materials, and the structure of building development in cities retains solar energy more easily. Together with heat from residential heating and vehicles, the temperature in a city is always 0.5-1°C higher than outside the city. In Göteborg, this temperature difference, the "heat island" of the city, may in calm and clear weather be as high as 4-8°C. In Montreal, a heat island as high as 12°C has been measured.
Large temperature differences also arise inside a city, for example between parks and built-up areas. In Göteborg, temperature differences up to 6°C have been measured between Slottsskogen (park of 156 ha) and Linnéstaden (densely developed area). This shows the significance of green spaces in reducing heat stress in cities. A global temperature rise will probably result in more intensive "heat islands" in cities, leading to greater use of air conditioning which will, in turn, further increase the heat island. This is a feedback phenomenon that is already a fact in megacities such as Tokyo. During the heat wave in Europe in 2003, lack of facilities to cool down dwellings and other buildings was one of the main reasons that so many people died in cities.
Tourism increases emissions
The tourist industry is affected by weather and climate, especially tourism for sun and bathing or for skiing. These types of tourism are extremely vulnerable to changes in climate variables such as temperature, precipitation and humidity. A climate change is therefore expected to have great significance for the patterns of tourist travel in future. In this context it is however important to remember that tourism, and particularly its travel pattern, for instance car and air travel, increases global emissions of carbon dioxide and thus accelerates climate change. Because tourism both affects, and is affected by, a climate change, it is very difficult to forecast future tourist streams, as shown by several research reports.
Mild winters, long summers
The mean temperature in Europe is estimated to increase by 2-6°C by 2100, which will probably result in shorter and milder winters and warmer and longer summers. Several researchers believe that this will have a very great effect on tourist movements in Europe, turning them round from south to north. In other words, a climate change is expected to be favourable for summer and winter tourism in northern Europe and unfavourable for winter tourism in the Alps and summer tourism around the Mediterranean. However, it is not yet known what economic, social and environmental consequences this change in tourism will have in Europe. There is also a lack of studies of how tourists and other players in society will react and adapt to a changed climate. Research shows that there is a great need of increased interdisciplinary knowledge and detailed impact studies of how tourism in Europe will change in relation to climate change and sustainable development. In some countries, tourism is expected to increase while in others it will presumably decrease or change, and this will have a great effect on the economy. Is Europe prepared for this change? What can we do to increase our preparedness?
Researchers from Sweden, Portugal and Turkey
Through the network Urban-net, Formas and corresponding research councils in Turkey and Portugal have set up a research project called "Urban tourism and climate change". With reference to the hypothesis "that European urban tourism will change in relation to climate change", the aim of the project is to study the present situation in some European cities, mainly with the help of questionnaires and interviews with the representatives of the tourist industry, urban planning, the public and tourists. The project will be carried out through interdisciplinary cooperation which comprises research teams from Sweden, Portugal and Turkey. In this way the project will cover both different geographical climate zones and different tourist markets. The project includes researchers who are specialists in climatology, geography, regional planning, economics and psychology. A reference and relevance group comprising practitioners and researchers is also associated with the project. Since the three research teams had not worked together before and the research issue is a new one, the teams will meet at regular workshops. The project is expected to result in a database that can be used for the interpretation and analysis of the relationship between urban tourism and climate change in the three countries concerned.
Author
:
Ingegärd Eliasson
Professor of Physical Geography, Department of Conservation, Göteborg University
Sofia Thorsson
PhD (Physical Geography), Department of Geosciences, Göteborg University
Igor Knez
Associate Professor of Psychology at Department of Education and Psychology, Gävle University College