Tourism and Climate Change Concerns

France is concerned about the effects that climate change could have on its tourism industry, it has emerged in a new report.  

France is a country of many features – extensive ski resorts, culturally diverse and historic cities, and long, sun-blessed beaches among them.  Data published by INSEE indicates that over 80 million people visited it during 2007, more than visited any other country in the world.  In terms of tourism revenues generated during the same year, France was third overall, behind the US and Spain.

Effects of Climate Change on France  

Tourism is presently responsible for approximately six per cent of the country’s GDP.  This, however, could all be set to change, the report - which looked at the possible effects of climate change on France - warned. 

“What kind of tourism can a seaside resort expect that loses its beach?”, it asked, adding “...how much pressure from tourism can a resort that keeps its beach cope with?”

The report – produced by France’s tourism department at the ministry of the economy – based its content on the expectation of temperatures rising by up to four degrees Celsius by the turn of the next century.  Should this occur, it said, rising tides would add significantly to the coastal erosion already present at 20 per cent of French tourist locations. 

Skiing would also be affected, especially at ski resorts sited 1,200 metres above sea level. 
Tourism in France naturally reaches a peak over the summer months – June, July and August.  Traditionally, water is in short supply at these times meaning, for farmers, that irrigation is necessary.  The report, however, suggested that, once climate change takes hold, there will be an increased argument to carry out this irrigation in areas other than farming.  “Will we choose to irrigate golf courses or fields of maize?”, it queried.

The report also looked at the possibility of tensions erupting between the north and south of France.  The south traditionally has the warmer climate, but if the north got warmer (through climate change), tourists could favour it over the south.

Away from the French mainland, climate change, the report said, could also impact heavily on overseas territory like Polynesia, whose popular coral reefs could disappear forever.