Are you feeling hot, hot , HOT??

Introduction

Climate change is one of the most discussed topics over the last few years, worldwide.
Numerous studies have taken place to establish the causes and consequences of changing climate. Many workshops and conventions take place to discuss these outcomes and to make appointments for improvement. One of the areas that will be deeply affected is the Caribbean. Global warming is changing the climate in ways that will have a serious effect on both human societies and natural ecosystems. Logically, the tourism industry will be highly affected as well, a sector which is the main income for the Caribbean. Trying to prevent these disasters, the government is promoting Green Tourism.
Original article: http://www.bahamapundit.com/2008/03/climate-change.html

Essay by Naomi Maas
Master in Tourism Destination Management student 2008/2009

Nowadays, scientists have been able to prove that the world has been heating up since people began burning fossil fuels since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution. (Buhalis & Costa, 2006) Carbon dioxide is one of the main gasses that trap heat within the atmosphere which results in heating up the earth.
One of the most vulnerable areas in the world when concerning the negative effects on climate change is the Caribbean. Therefore, much research takes place on which scientist try to create strategies to minimize the effects in this area.
The Bahamas is one of the islands that already have to cope with the consequences. Due to higher temperatures is the sea level rising and shows extreme weather patterns. It is more and more tortured by hurricanes which lead to coastal erosion, die-off of coral reef and destroyed infrastructure. Loss of land and saltwater intruding into freshwater are also results of climate change. Insurance covers will get lost and diseases will easily spread.
All of these affect travelling to this region and so influencing the tourism development.

Since most Bahamians live on or near the cost it is “One of the countries that will be most affected, and people need to know that.” Earlston McPhee, Caribbean Net News. Action has to be undertaken now and therefore new strategies have been created in cooperation with the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism.

But, when trying to solve these problems, we first have to analyse the tourism industry itself. This industry is a big source of greenhouse gasses and by far the largest tourism related contributor is the transportation sector (Gossling 2002).
To create a carbon-neutral destination, the technology aspect is the first to handle. A direct approach is for instance the use of electric rental cars and eco-tourism programmes. The last few decades we have gained much knowledge about environment friendly energy and this knowledge has to be applied rapidly.

The approach that focuses on creating awareness worldwide can be defined as “Green Marketing”. Eco-tourism programs try to create awareness amongst companies and communities to improve their environmental standards.
Another Green Marketing tool is making tourists aware of the problems and instead of closing their eyes, helping to improve. Flight emissions can be neutralised to contribute in ecofriendly projects in developing countries. Which, in my opinion, is a good approach and should be exposed on every flight company website? It does not oblige people but maybe they will think about it for a moment and offers an instant opportunity to contribute.
Smart developments should as well be covered by insurance companies when facing natural disasters such as hurricanes.

For me it is clear that there are some areas in the world that rapidly need to undertake action or need help to undertake this action in order to prevent downfall as a result of global warming. In many cases the areas incomes are based on tourism development and when a situation is created that these areas get less attractive for development, it will result in an unhealthy economic and living environment for the inhabitants and once beautiful parts of the world will vanish because of our lack of responsibility.