Austrian Tourism Faces “Meaningful Changes” Due to Climate Crisis, New report finds
Vienna, Austria – A new austrian status report on climate change (AAR2) warns that the tourism sector, particularly mountain tourism, will undergo “significant changes” due to the escalating climate crisis and requires urgent adaptation. The report, published by science.ORF.at, identifies tourism as both vulnerable to climate change and a contributor to it, highlighting a critical need for enduring practices.
The AAR2 states with “high security” that climate change will impact supply and demand within tourism, classifying the sector as “severely affected with a significant need for adaptation in the future.” While mountain summer tourism has seen increasing overnight stays and added value in the last 15 to 20 years, the long-term viability of this sector is threatened by shifting climate patterns. The report also quantifies tourism’s impact, stating the Austrian tourism sector is responsible for 4.15 percent of the country’s total CO2 emissions – primarily from guest travel.
According to the report’s authors, the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions within tourism is guest transportation. “Climate-kind tourism is characterized by a high proportion of guests who arrive by public transport,” stated expert Steiger. Though, current figures from the Austria (VCÖ) indicate that approximately three-quarters of holiday guests currently arrive by car.
The AAR2 suggests that energetic renovations of accommodations and a shift to renewable energy sources are also crucial steps toward mitigating tourism’s environmental impact. The report underscores the urgency of these changes to preserve mountain regions as cooler destinations in a warming world.
