Table 1 Comparative analysis and summary... | Emerald Publishing

Table 1

Comparative analysis and summary of regional responses to climate-strategic tourism

Region	Strategic opportunity	Governance response	Challenges	Ethical implications
Arctic	Expansion of cruise itineraries, adventure and scientific tourism, and enhanced geopolitical visibility through gateway positioning	Infrastructure investments in cruise facilities; state positioning in Arctic competition	Fragile environments, safety risks, geopolitical rivalry	Soft power use of advantage; risk of exploitation vs sustainability
Northern & Western Europe	Positioning as “cool summer” destinations, extended seasons for outdoor and cultural tourism, attraction of markets diverted from heat-stressed Mediterranean	Revised branding strategies, infrastructure expansion, dispersal policies	Overtourism, small-town infrastructure limits, resident dissatisfaction	Equity concerns if benefits not reinvested sustainably
Asia–Pacific	Development of climatic refuges (Hokkaido, Korean highlands, New Zealand), opportunities in eco-tourism and heritage branding, potential to reposition as climate-resilient destinations	Integration of climate advantage into national tourism strategies and promotion	Severe inequality between advantaged temperate nations and vulnerable SE Asia	Moral responsibility of advantaged states towards disadvantaged neighbours
North America	Growth of northern and high-altitude destinations, diversification of ski resort products, expanded use of national parks and temperate coastlines as climate refuges	Rebranding of Canada; diversification in US ski markets; investment in parks and infrastructure	Regional inequality; predicting demand shifts; infrastructure gaps	Justice issues in intra-continental inequalities of advantage
Mediterranean	Opportunities for season diversification (shoulder-season growth), development of cultural, urban and inland tourism, repositioning beyond traditional beach models	National policies emphasise diversification, product innovation, season extension	Heat stress, water scarcity, biodiversity loss, economic dependence on beach tourism	Decline of former leaders raises fairness concerns in climate-induced loss
SIDS & Coral Reefs	Strategic opportunities are extremely limited, but include potential for niche adaptation strategies such as high-value eco-tourism, climate advocacy as destination branding and participation in benefit-sharing frameworks	Appeals for global aid and finance transfers; limited adaptive governance capacity	Sea-level rise, storm surge, coral bleaching, high adaptation costs, existential risks	Benefit justice imperative: advantaged regions' obligations to existentially threatened SIDS

Region	Strategic opportunity	Governance response	Challenges	Ethical implications
Arctic	Expansion of cruise itineraries, adventure and scientific tourism, and enhanced geopolitical visibility through gateway positioning	Infrastructure investments in cruise facilities; state positioning in Arctic competition	Fragile environments, safety risks, geopolitical rivalry	Soft power use of advantage; risk of exploitation vs sustainability
Northern & Western Europe	Positioning as “cool summer” destinations, extended seasons for outdoor and cultural tourism, attraction of markets diverted from heat-stressed Mediterranean	Revised branding strategies, infrastructure expansion, dispersal policies	Overtourism, small-town infrastructure limits, resident dissatisfaction	Equity concerns if benefits not reinvested sustainably
Asia–Pacific	Development of climatic refuges (Hokkaido, Korean highlands, New Zealand), opportunities in eco-tourism and heritage branding, potential to reposition as climate-resilient destinations	Integration of climate advantage into national tourism strategies and promotion	Severe inequality between advantaged temperate nations and vulnerable SE Asia	Moral responsibility of advantaged states towards disadvantaged neighbours
North America	Growth of northern and high-altitude destinations, diversification of ski resort products, expanded use of national parks and temperate coastlines as climate refuges	Rebranding of Canada; diversification in US ski markets; investment in parks and infrastructure	Regional inequality; predicting demand shifts; infrastructure gaps	Justice issues in intra-continental inequalities of advantage
Mediterranean	Opportunities for season diversification (shoulder-season growth), development of cultural, urban and inland tourism, repositioning beyond traditional beach models	National policies emphasise diversification, product innovation, season extension	Heat stress, water scarcity, biodiversity loss, economic dependence on beach tourism	Decline of former leaders raises fairness concerns in climate-induced loss
SIDS & Coral Reefs	Strategic opportunities are extremely limited, but include potential for niche adaptation strategies such as high-value eco-tourism, climate advocacy as destination branding and participation in benefit-sharing frameworks	Appeals for global aid and finance transfers; limited adaptive governance capacity	Sea-level rise, storm surge, coral bleaching, high adaptation costs, existential risks	Benefit justice imperative: advantaged regions' obligations to existentially threatened SIDS

Source(s): Own editing