Disaster Risk Management For Coastal Tourism Destinations - DTIE

Disaster Risk Management For Coastal Tourism Destinations Responding To Climate Change
A Practical Guide For Decision Makers
1) Development programs that focus on poverty reduction and that seek to
2) Programs that seek to improve the capacity of institutions and systems and
that overlap with adaptation activities, e.g. development of more robust
communications systems, planning processes, weather monitoring &
forecasting mapping and natural resource management.
3) Programs designed to manage climate risk by incorporating climate
information into decision-making e.g. disaster response planning, drought-
melting.
The WRI adaptation report concludes that “…adaptation needs to be regarded as
a ‘big tent’ encompassing the full range of responses – from reducing poverty and
building capacity, to managing risk and directly confronting climate change impacts”.
This Handbook accepts and endorses climate adaptation as a strategy for risk
management and reduction. Apart from the focus on building capacity and
resilience within the community, the Handbook will also promote the preservation of
key ecosystem services through biological diversity as a mitigation strategy.
There is undoubtedly any number or type of mitigation and adaptation programs
ongoing at tourism-based economies. The idea is to combine traditional
development approaches with risk evaluation and reduction planning for the overall
goal of building community resilience. Disaster managers, decision makers and
tourism industry personnel, will therefore need to reshape their own thinking and
practices beyond traditional boundaries and to embrace the realities of climate
change. Collaboration and partnership between multi-stakeholders, across sectors
and with varying skills, resources and expertise, are essential in order to confront the
challenge of climate-induced hazards.
2.5
Small Island Developing States (SIDs)
SIDs are limited by their smallness yet well known for their natural, human, and
cultural resources which are key tourism assets. These assets and resources
are often exposed to persistent stressors and are fast degrading because of a
combination of limited capacity and weak institutional structures for the monitoring
and control of development and enforcement of legislation.
SIDS’ topographic island character, azure seas and beaches serve as a magnet
for coastal tourism and prime commercial real estate development. Caught
within vast ocean spaces, SIDS’ low land-to-sea ratios also make them highly
vulnerable to tropical hazards especially cyclones, storm surges, and tsunamis.
season, which weaken local and indigenous community defenses, infrastructure,
and property.
26 | Climate Change, Disasters And Tourism