Rising international temperatures affect pure ecosystems and wildlife and have vital implications for tourism, significantly in nations across the Mediterranean basin, together with Türkiye. Experts warn that local weather change is prone to negatively have an effect on the thermal consolation of vacationers, particularly throughout peak seasons.
Mehmet Somuncu, head of Ankara University’s Human Economic Geography Department, highlighted the vulnerability of Türkiye, a key participant within the Mediterranean tourism sector. He famous that whereas the worldwide common temperature has risen by 1.2 levels Celsius (2.16 levels Fahrenheit) over the past century, the Mediterranean basin has skilled an excellent larger enhance of 1.5 levels Celsius.
“This increase is evident in the annual average temperature, but it is particularly pronounced during July and August, the peak tourism season. Temperatures can reach up to 45 degrees Celsius on extreme days. This reduced comfort for tourists is a significant and growing concern,” Somuncu defined.
“Water scarcity is identified as a primary issue that may plague the Mediterranean basin in the near future, exacerbating the challenges posed by rising temperatures. Somuncu also highlighted the invasion of alien species in the region’s seas, particularly in the Mediterranean. He noted that over 450 species have entered the Mediterranean from foreign seas, with recent sightings of puffer fish and lionfish moving westward toward the Gulf of Iskenderun. This phenomenon poses a risk to coastal areas like Antalya and Muğla,” he defined.
Furthermore, the elevated frequency and depth of pure disasters, equivalent to floods, are starting to affect tourism lodging amenities. While presently sporadic, these occasions are anticipated to turn into extra frequent and extreme sooner or later, affecting tourism infrastructure and customer experiences.
“Tourism in the Eastern Mediterranean will face significant challenges in the coming years due to rising temperatures, changes in precipitation patterns and other extreme weather events,” Somuncu stated.
He highlighted that nations like Türkiye, France, Italy, Spain and Greece, recognized for his or her coastal tourism, will probably be significantly affected. Moreover, he famous a possible decline in sea tourism demand in nations equivalent to Morocco, Tunisia and Algeria in North Africa, suggesting a have to discover various tourism choices.
He additionally mentioned the rising sea ranges alongside the Mediterranean coast, which have elevated by about 6 centimeters within the final century. Predictions counsel this rise may escalate, probably reaching 1 meter (over 3 toes) by the top of this century. Given that roughly half of the 550 million folks dwelling in Mediterranean-bordering nations reside alongside the coast, this pattern poses a major threat of flooding for these populations.
Somuncu additional defined that metropolitan areas, attributable to their greater temperatures ensuing from human actions, are detrimental to city tourism. He highlighted cities like Paris and London, in addition to the capitals or main cities of Italy and Spain, the place city warmth islands are significantly intense.
To deal with these challenges, Somuncu advisable that stakeholders within the tourism sector collaborate to establish dangers and develop a street map for climate-resilient tourism. He outlined this because the trade’s potential to face up to and reply to crises whereas preserving its present construction.
Somuncu pressured the significance of contemplating present and future local weather change results in all tourism-related investments. He proposed a method of diversifying tourism actions throughout all areas and all year long, suggesting a shift towards mountainous areas just like the Taurus Mountains. He highlighted the attractiveness of the northern a part of Türkiye, significantly the Black Sea area, with its mountainous, forested areas, villages and plateaus.
He identified that the Black Sea area alone boasts between 500 and 750 plateaus in every province, providing ample growth alternatives. He steered that with cautious planning and group, much like what has been performed within the Alps, tourism in these areas may very well be diversified and expanded. He believed that such a method wouldn’t solely contribute to regional growth but in addition scale back Türkiye’s total tourism threat.
Source: www.dailysabah.com
