Educational scenario
Tourism and Climate Change
“We live in a wonderful world full of beauty, charm and adventure. There is no end to wonderful experiences, if only we look for them with open eyes.”
Tourism industry is very vulnerable to climate change. Many of the most popular tourist destinations rely mainly on the natural environment. Coastal resorts, forests, wildlife habitats, alpine ski resorts, and northern areas – they all rely on attracting tourists to a combination of natural beauty, good weather and safe conditions. Climate change will undoubtedly affect many destinations.
Tourism is not only a potential victim of climate change. It also contributes to climate change, producing about 8% of total CO2 emissions. And this percentage is constantly growing.
Tourism activities and greenhouse gases
Organize a discussion based on the information presented in Worksheet "Tourism Activities and Greenhouse Gases".
Let the students share their observations and impressions related to excursions organized by their families, holidays or hiking trips.
Can changes be made in the future in the organization and conducting of family tourism in the light of what has been learned about the negative impact of tourism on climate change (in relation to travel, use of tourist facilities or food consumption)? Record the suggestions and comments made in this regard.
Tourism Activities and Greenhouse Gases
Present to the class the "Tourism and Climate Change" video. Discuss the following questions:
- What might be the obstacles faced by tourism industry these days (health pandemic, economic crisis, natural disasters and cataclysms)?
- What are the immediate threats to tourism due to climate change (extreme weather conditions, sea level rise, extinction of many plant and animal species and changes in ecosystems)?
- How could the continuing growth of tourism exacerbate the climate crisis in the coming decades (rising of global temperature)?
Present to the class the "10 World Tourist Destinations Threatened by Climate Change" video.
Discuss the different reasons why each of these world-famous and very popular tourist sites is threatened by climate changes.
Let's build an eco-hotel with care for the climate
Divide the class into 3-4 small groups and assign each group to brainstorm and come up with ideas on how to build and run an eco-hotel that contributes minimally to climate change. Have students brainstorm and propose solutions related to:
- size, location and materials used for the hotel construction;
- presence of a garden, external and internal greening of the building;
- energy sources related to heating, cooling and ventilation of the hotel;
- supply of food products and drinks;
- waste management;
- opportunities for challenges and entertainment for guests, as well as for their participation in activities related to environmental and climate protection;
- food menu ideas.
Summarize the results of the work of the separate groups and start choosing a name for the eco-hotel. Suggest ideas on how to advertise it. Specify that the decisions should not be at the expense of the guests' full-fledged rest.
Portrait of the good tourist
Ask students to make suggestions about the qualities that a person should have in order to be judged as a sound tourist. Write them down and complete them. Pay attention to the qualities related to environment and climate (being curious, reasonable and realistic in expectations, being patient, not harming living and non-living nature, not polluting, to be moderated in consumption and to save resources, to prefer local products and foods, to get to know and appreciate local natural and cultural attractions, to be polite to people, to comply with local traditions and ethical norms, not to overdo anything, not to be noisy, to communicate with local people and guests and to find friends, to observe the laws and rules of the country and the city, to have fun, to take away good memories, souvenirs and photos, to share with other people their own impressions).
Give examples and make a summary.
Transformation of tourism activity (Option 1)
Present to the class the dilemma "Transformation of tourism activity" and initiate a discussion on the measures proposed in the text that can be taken to adapt to climate changes. Can other measures be proposed?
Transformation of tourism activity
Transformation of tourism activity (Option 2)
Organize a role-play based on the dilemma "Transformation of tourism activity", in which several volunteers take on the roles of representatives of various tourism-related activities:
- hotel owner,
- manager in a travel company,
- restauranteur,
- spa center manager,
- ski instructor,
- representatives of local authorities and citizens.
In advance, give the volunteers the opportunity to familiarize themselves with the text of the dilemma and to prepare their arguments and positions on the discussed options for the transformation of the tourism activity in the settlement.
Organize the role-play as a public discussion between the parties, where the local residents have the opportunity to take position and ask questions.
What feelings arise in the class after the role play is over? Share them with others.
Transformation of tourism activity
Profession Cook
Preliminary preparation:
A week before the planned lesson, instruct the students to search the media and the Internet for tourist offers advertising vacations and/or excursions to famous tourist destinations in the country and abroad.
In class:
Invite students to share the information they have gathered. Discuss it. Pay attention to what in the advertised destinations is considered a tourist attraction (whether it is related to natural and cultural attractions of the specific area, or is information about a proposed mass standard, described as the number of stars, umbrellas, pools, etc.).
Based on Worksheet "Comparing Mass and Rural (Eco) Tourism" organize a discussion. Let the students first propose their own additions to the characteristics of the two types of tourism described in the Worksheet. Then discuss the questions:
- How does mass tourism affect the environment?
- How does rural (eco) tourism affect the environment?
- What could be changed to make mass tourism much more environmentally friendly?
- What should be done to promote rural tourism? Is there a danger that, with increased interest in it, it will become a simile of mass tourism?
Summarize that any trip should be thought out and tailored to people interests, their capabilities, their age, the season and a number of other factors, such as health and finance. Often, modern travel brings many frustrations to people because of the noise, the rush, the long wait, the traffic jams and the inability to use a camera without worry. Rest and travel are wonderful, if new and beautiful places are visited, marvelous emotions are experienced with loved ones and friends, new things are learned.
Comparing Mass and Rural (Eco) Tourism
About a quarter of global carbon emissions are related to food preparation, but unfortunately, about a third of the meals served are not consumed and are thrown away.
Cooking at home accounts for almost a fifth of household energy usage. Refrigeration and washing dishes further increase the daily energy consumption at home. Reducing energy consumption in the kitchen depends to a large extent on people's knowledge of this area. More efficient appliances and the promotion of alternatives to traditional cooking methods can also help in this direction.
Familiarize the class with the Worksheet "Profession Cook" and discuss which of the challenges and recommended measures we should keep in mind when preparing food at home.
Profession Cook
Research - Travel to...
Divide the class into 5 groups and give each group one of the worksheets:
- "Denali National Park and Climate Change";
- "Victoria Falls and Climate Change";
- "The Great Barrier Reef and Climate Change";
- "The Evia Island and Climate Change";
- "The Devil's Throat Cave and Climate Change".
Give the participants in the groups the opportunity to get to know and discuss the climate change challenges that each tourist site comes across with. Let each group choose representatives to introduce before the class the case studies described and the results of the following discussions.
Discuss:
- How does climate change affect tourism?
- Are there similar unfavorable trends of reduced interest in visiting local tourist sites and natural attractions?
What specific measures could be taken to adapt local tourism to a changing climate?
Denali National Park and Climate Change
Victoria Falls and Climate Change
The Great Barrier Reef and Climate Change
The Evia Island and Climate Change
The Devil's Throat Cave and Climate Change
Score: | 10
Question: | 10
- Make research on local tourism – types of tourism, number of tourists and how it has been developed over time.
- Propose ideas for the improvement and development of tourism, according to the natural and cultural features of the area.
- Make a map of the tourist sites in your hometown.
- Organize a meeting with local tourism operators or municipality representatives to explore the possibilities for tourism activities.
- Take virtual trips to different cities and countries. This can include: presentations or boards with photos, national flags and coats of arms of cities or countries, virtual tours of various natural and historical sights and museums, introduction of famous people, specific foods. Look for interesting facts. Organize a presentation of the collected information and invite parents and guests.
- Make an exhibition of drawings or photos on the topic "My unforgettable summer" or "My dream trip".
- Collect interesting travel thoughts from books, movies or songs.
Going on vacation may be fun for you, but it's not great for Earth. Global tourism accounts for around one-twelfth of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions. Sid Perkins, science journalist
