Tourists Aware of Climate Change Impact on Travel
EAE Business School has revealed that a significant majority of tourists consider the consequences of climate change when choosing their holiday destinations. The report found that:
80% of travelers acknowledge the impact of climate change on their travel experiences and the places they visit.
20% of travelers do not let climate change influence their travel decisions.
The study also revealed increasing awareness of rising temperatures and weather patterns, with 87% of tourists believing that human activity is manipulating the global climate, and 71% seeing tourism itself as a contributing factor.
The Mediterranean region, which is experiencing a 20% faster temperature increase than the global average, is particularly vulnerable to the climate crisis. In Spain, global warming is expected to reduce tourism by 10 to 15% by the end of the 21st century.
Despite growing awareness, the study found a gap between awareness and action. While 61% of respondents consider the environmental impact of their trips to be low or null, only 39% express high concern.
Travelers are increasingly interested in sustainable practices, valuing aspects such as promoting local economies, water management, use of local and ecological products, biodiversity protection, renewable energy, and recycled materials. 60% of tourists would be willing to pay more for tourism services that adopt sustainable practices, but only 30% currently choose services based on their sustainability commitments.