Oct. 1, 2007 — A booming worldwide tourism industry could prove its own worst enemy by contributing to the global warming that threatens some of the planet's most prized destinations, UN agencies warned Monday.
If no measures are taken, tourism's impact on climate change is set to more than double in the next 30 years, according to advance data from a report by the UN tourism, environment and weather agencies.
"The tourism industry is both challenged by climate change and a contributor to greenhouse gas emissions," UN Environment Program (UNEP) Executive Director Achim Steiner said at an international conference in Davos, Switzerland.
Coastal, mountain and nature destinations, especially in poor countries or island states like the Maldives, are likely to be the most affected by weather shifts and rising sea levels or temperatures, according to extracts from the report on climate change and tourism.
While travel to other destinations in more temperate areas might grow, global warming could drain a vital part of the economic lifeblood of some least-developed countries, it added.
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UN World Tourism Organization Secretary General Franco Frangialli called for immediate action from the industry and public authorities, even though tourism's contribution to global warming is smaller than many other industries.
"Climate change is pushing the world of tourism to a revolution, not only an economic and technological one, but also a cultural one," he told the three day conference in this Swiss Alpine resort.
"The Swiss Alps suffered due to a lack of snow this winter and it's not due to chance. Tourism contributes to climate change just as it is a victim (of it)," he added.
