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Introduction
The research by Bas Amelung and Sarah Nicholl, two assistant professors focus on Implications of climate change for tourism in Australia. The research article explores the climatic change in Australia and its impact on tourism in Australia. The prospected global change in climate is likely to affect the attractiveness of Australia. There will also be difficulties in the planning, development, and management in the tourism industry. The climatic changes will shift in favor of the southern part of Australia at an expense of the climatic condition in the northern part of Australia. By discussing the aspects of research and the author’s main ideas, this evaluation will illustrate that the research has effectively explored the impact of the projected climate change on Australia’s tourism industry.
Summary of the Research Article
The first main argument is that the projected climatic change will have a great impact on the tourism industry. There will be a change in direction due to climatic seasons. The authors effectively use the Tourism Climatic Index (TCI) scores to compare the data for the 1970s, the early twenty first century and use these to project the expected changes later in the century in the 2080s (Amelung & Nicholl, 2014). Moreover, the authors examine and compare the TCI scores for different regions, namely Melbourne, Perth, Brisbane, Cairns and Sydney. The authors use the data and comparative analysis to illustrate their argument that the projected climatic changes will affect the country’s tourism.
The second main idea is that there is a consistent increase in the level of temperatures in Australia. This indicates that the country is getting its share of the global climate change phenomenon. According to Australian bureau meteorology 2012, there is a constant increase in temperatures ranging from 0.75 to 0.9 degree Celsius since 1910 (Amelung & Nicholl, 2014). Out of the constant increase in temperatures there is the rising sea level accompanied by increased heat waves, fewer frosts and more rain in the northern part of Australia.
The third main idea is that rain and water supplies have decreased marginally over time in Australia. In the southern part of the Australia, there is less rain (Amelung & Nicholl, 2014). However, in the general view, the drought is prospected due to decreased supply of the water. These are factors that can sabotage the tourism industry. Due to the constant increase in temperatures there is the rising sea level accompanied by increased heat waves, fewer frosts and more rain in the northern part of Australia. In the southern part of the Australia, there is less rain.
Critique and Evaluation
By discussing the spatial and temporal shifts in climatic conditions in Australia, the research effectively explores the impact of the projected climate change on Australia’s tourism industry
I agree that climate change will affect the tourism attractiveness of Australia. Change of the season will affect the planning, development and management of the industry. The tourism climatic index helps in the analysis of the potential visits hence making proper preparations. In the cases where there is a projected decline in visits, increased investment in indoor amenities is necessary. The authors focus on the major ideas of the author as stipulated in the essay.
Tourism is the leading source of economy in Australia, which is a developed country. It is supported by both domestic and international tourists. Extreme weather conditions in the areas that are highly visited will lead to a change in direction. Worse still if the areas are affected by landslides, it becomes inaccessible for a period of time. International visits attract tourist in the order of the seasons. The summer season, which takes place between December and February registers the highest tourism visits (Amelung & Nicholl, 2014). It is followed by spring in September to November, winter in June to August and the last season being autumn in March to May (Amelung & Nicholl, 2014). Change in climate will shift the seasons and the date of tourism.
However, I find the research inconclusive because it does not give recommendations for averting the imminent problem. Where conditions are expected to favor tourism, adequate infrastructure should be provided to accommodate the potential domestic and international leisure travelers (Scott et al, 2012). In addition, it is important to study the climatic change in order to make the necessary adjustments that will promote the tourism industry in any climatic condition (Scott et al, 2012). The article should appreciate the fact that something can be done to prevent the extreme conditions and the effects of the global climatic change. Rather, there is no cited example of another part of the globe that has similar climatic changes and whose the tourism industry collapsed.
Conclusion
The main idea and argument of the authors aim at illustrating the impacts of the projected climate change on the Australian tourism industry. The study investigates potential changes in climatic attractiveness for Australia’s major destinations using the Tourism Climatic Index to argue the implications for tourism planning, development and management, and tourist flows. In agreement with the authors, the arguments, the method of research and the analysis of the research are consistent. I further agree with the main arguments about the climatic changes. Despite the lack of recommendations, the research proves that the projected climate changes. The research, the analysis and the main ideas of the authors effectively explore the impact of the projected climate change on Australia’s tourism.
References
Amelung, B., & Nicholls, S. (2014). Implications of climate change for tourism in Australia. Tourism Management 41 (2014) 228-244
Scott, D., Hall, C.M., & Gössling, S. (2012). Tourism and Climate Change: Impacts, Adaptation and Mitigation. New York: Routledge Publishing