Walking on sunshine: Application of a choice experiment to understand impacts of climate change on tourism attractions

Abstract

Summer destinations and local attractions in Western European countries are increasingly affected by climate change, predominantly high temperatures and impacts by thunderstorms. In order to assist practitioners, this study investigates the trade-offs visitors make under different expected weather conditions and develops recommendations for adaptation strategies. A survey containing a discrete choice experiment including different types of attractions, accessibility and weather conditions, was conducted (N = 5544). The results show that the impacts of heavy rainfall, thunderstorms and heat as a result of climate change cannot be assessed in a blanket manner. Visitors are less sensitive to high temperatures than to the probability of thunderstorms and cooler temperatures are preferred, especially for outdoor activities. Furthermore, the survey revealed that the majority of respondents would rather travel further (spatial substitution) than change the desired activity (activity substitution).

We expected that steering instruments such as higher parking fees or the enhanced accessibility by public transportation are able to change mobility patterns and enhance mitigation strategies. However. parking fees, meant to influence behavior and enhance the shift from private car to public transportation, showed limited effects. Finally, the results underline that the perceived utility of sustainability certifications remains low, and that certification has a very limited influence on the decision-making process.