Tourism climate information based on human thermal perception in Taiwan and Eastern China

Human thermal perceptions are closely related to success in the tourism sector. However, a single climatic parameter or thermal index based on empirical equations cannot fully assess the thermal conditions at tourist destinations. While examining Taiwan and Eastern China, this study attempts to determine tourist thermal perceptions based on physiologically equivalent temperature (PET) and thermal comfort classifications (TPCs) for temperate and (sub)tropical regions. Seasonal distribution maps of PET indicate that Taiwan and Eastern China are perceived as comfortable during spring and autumn for those residing in temperate regions, while only the southern region during spring and the northern region during summer are perceived as comfortable for those residing in (sub)tropical regions. Furthermore, the annual thermal comfort distribution (ATCD) is determined to identify comfortable months for 20 tourist destinations. The PET frequencies, which are calculated using hourly climate data, describe climate variability and change. This climate information will prove useful to tourism authorities, travel agencies, resorts and tourists. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.