Climate change and its potential impacts on sustainable tourism development

Being highly sensitive to the climatic condition, nature-based destinations will be faced with many changes due to climate change. Given this, it is essential to assess the impacts of projected climate change on tourism development in coastal destinations. Based on the application of the Physiologically Equivalent Temperature, this study investigates climatic information for the present and predicted conditions in the future to discuss the climate change impacts on tourism development. The results show this Iranian leading destination will become too hot in summer and a more pleasant destination in autumn and winter. Increasing investment in indoor facilities may become increasingly necessary for summer, and part of the demand should be moved from summer to the rest of the year.

Automated summary

Nature-based destinations are highly sensitive to climate change, necessitating a thorough assessment of the impacts on tourism development. This study using Physiologically Equivalent Temperature found that the leading Iranian destination will become overly hot in summer, requiring increased investment in indoor facilities and a shift in tourist demand distribution throughout the year.