Handbook on Managing nature-based tourism destinations amid climate change

Research Handbooks in Tourism (Edward Elgar Series)

Edited by Ante Mandić1, Anna Spenceley2, David A. Fennell3

1University of Split, Faculty of economics, business and tourism, Croatia; 2University of Johannesburg, South Africa; 3Department of Geography & Tourism Studies, Brock University, Ontario, Canada.

The context for the Handbook

Accelerating climate action in tourism is of utmost importance for the sector’s resilience, as by 2030, the number of tourists travelling further than ever and by more energy-intensive means of transport will reach 1.8 billion (UNWTO, 2019; Gössling & Scott, 2018). Recently the global commitment to inspire climate action in tourism was shaped in the form of the Glasgow Declaration on Climate Action in Tourism (One Planet, 2021). However, there is no evidence of how declarations have altered the growth trajectory of sector emissions or influenced the integration of climate action into tourism policy and planning (Scott and Gössling, 2022a). The last three decades of research failed to prepare the sector for the net-zero transition and climate disruption (Scott and Gössling, 2022b); climate change has not yet become a priority for tourism policymakers (Becken et al., 2020), and effective tourism sector leadership is missing to develop a strategic tourism policy framework and emission measurement and reporting systems (Scott et al., 2016).

Natural areas (coastal, marine, mountain), and consequently, nature-based activities are often accentuated as the most threatened (UNEP & CAST, 2008; Hall, 2008; Scott et al., 2019; Scott & Gössling, 2018; Rutty et al., 2021; Kaján & Saarinen, 2013; Scott et al., 2012), as climate change alterers both the supply and visitor demand for recreational activities (McCreary et al., 2020). Consequently, many nature-based destinations have started to respond to climate change threats by assessing their adaptive capacity and planning adaptation strategies (McCreary et al., 2019).

This Handbook seeks to bring together scientists and tourism experts to expand the knowledge on the impacts of climate change on nature-based tourism development by supporting multi and interdisciplinary collaborations globally. The handbook should serve as a medium to share current knowledge, innovative tools, and sustainable solutions with substantial evidence and societal impact and go well beyond a simple standard practice description.

The handbook will include five major sections outlined below and approximately 20-25 chapters.

Tentative outline:

  • 1. Monitoring and measuring NBT-related emissions
  • 1.1. Glasgow Declaration monitoring systems
  • 1.2. SunX monitoring and reporting system for climate emissions from tourism
  • 1.3. Ecological Footprint Accounting – monitoring environmental pressures of ecotourism visitor experiences
  • 1.4. Sustainable tourism observatories
  • 1.5. National emissions from tourism
  • 2. Accelerating decarbonisation in NBT
  • 2.1. Carbon offsetting for tourism and travellers
  • 2.2. Approaches to decarbonisation in NBT
  • 2.3. Travel emissions carbon offsetting and the climate crisis
  • 2.4. The role of public policy in accelerating decarbonisation
  • 2.5. Responses to climate change in alpine ski destinations
  • 3. Inspiring ecosystem regeneration in NB destinations
  • 3.1. Ecosystem regeneration in sensitive destinations – the Arctic
  • 3.2. Integrated Coastal Zone Management
  • 3.3. Building community resilience to climate change
  • 3.4. Regenerative tourism – toward conscious destinations and destination stewardship
  • 4. Fostering collaboration between critical stakeholders in NB destinations
  • 4.1. Sustainable tourism destination management in an era of climate change
  • 4.2. The Travalyst/Skyscanner/Google approach to informing visitors of their carbon emissions for trips
  • 4.3. Raising awareness and developing the capacities of stakeholders to respond to global change – the prospect of smart governance and living labs
  • 5. Ensuring financial capacities to meet shared goals in NB destinations
  • 5.1. Overview of financial tools for NBT in destinations
  • 5.2. Use of conservation bonds for NBT and livelihood development
  • 5.3. The EU National Recovery and Resilience Plan 2021-2026 – the effects on climate change

TENTATIVE TIMELINE

Chapter 6000-7000 words

  • Abstract submission deadline: 11 November 2022
  • Manuscripts (1st versions) ready: February 2023
  • Editorial feedback and revisions: March-April 2023
  • Manuscripts (2nd versions) ready: August 2023
  • Editing: September 2023
  • Submission to the publishing house: by October 2023

Information for contributors https://www.e-elgar.com/additional-info-for-contributors/

Author information https://www.e-elgar.com/author-hub/author-information/

Submit your proposal to ante.mandic@efst.hr annaspenceley@gmail.com dfennell@brocku.ca