Tourism mobilities and climate crisis dilemmas: Tourists traveling towards a climate apocalypse?

Abstract

Framed by a multidimensional approach to dilemmas, this qualitative study focuses on Norwegians' views on tourism mobilities and climate change dilemmas, contextual aspects, coping strategies, and consequences. Despite being situated in ideological and moral landscapes where the climate crisis is largely ignored, all participants acknowledge the dilemmas. However, the unconcerned deny personal responsibility and are unwilling to change their travel habits, representing a typical tourist mindset regarding environmental concerns. Pro-environmentalists are critical of neoliberal values and call for responsible tourism practices. Both groups agree that tourism needs regulations. Managing tourism's commons tragedy character on a global level poses challenges due to capitalist forces and low political priority. The study calls for pro-environmental changes at the individual, institutional, and political levels.