Year: 2014
Type: book
Abstract: Here today, gone tomorrow?Cultural and religious embeddedness of climate change risk perception "The very likely contribution of mean sea level rise to increased extreme coastal high water levels, coupled with the likely increase in tropical cyclone maximum wind speed" 1 are major climate change risks facing small island destinations.Due to their limited resources, small island destinations often rely on tourism for their economic survival.This is manifest in tourism's contribution to GDP in island destinations which are significantly higher than advanced and diversified economies.For instance, it is noted that tourism's contribution to GDP in island destinations accounts for up to 25%, whereas in advanced economies tourism accounts for only 2% of GDP. 2 Tourism products in island destinations often surround the "3S" concepts (Sun -Sea -Sand).These three components are directly connected to climate conditions.Variability and changes in these three components influence both the demand and supply side of tourism.3 Social and psychological sciences have to an extent increased our understanding of attitudes, behaviours, perceptions, intentions, and methods of coping with climate change risks.Most of this research focuses on developed countries, and little emphasis is given to developing country contexts.4 Hence, perceptions, understandings of and responses to climate change in developing countries are often given insufficient attention.5 It is noted that a research gap exists in respect to psychological, cultural, religious, and social influences on the perceived risks of climate change, perceived adaptive capacity and motivation to respond to these perceived risks.6 Maldives is the lowest lying country on Earth, with islands less than three metres above sea level.Due to high tourism demand and combined with the smallness of the islands, the concentration of population and infrastructure has been focused in high risk coastal zones.The aim of this study was to explore how local inhabitants of a highly vulnerable tourism destination perceived climate change risks and to understand their motivation to adapt to these perceived risks.Within the context of Maldives, 62 interviews were conducted within three clusters of local communities of three atolls.The local communities of Maldives were chosen because of their high dependency on the tourism industry for employment and economic generation. Perceptions of climate change risksEngaging individuals with climate change has often proved difficult as perceptions of what is considered a risk vary greatly among individuals.A number of factors influence how individuals perceive risks, which in turn influence their motivation to address the risks.For instance, subjective beliefs (rational or irrational) are driven by psychological and cultural factors, values, norms, and social context.7 Thus, what is considered a risk in one cultural context may or may not be considered a risk in another.Further, many authors found that culture mediates how individuals perceive, interpret, and respond to risks.8 In addition, cognitive traditions or collective patterns of thinking shape how and if individuals, groups or societies think about climate change and how they perceive climate change as being relevant to their everyday life.9
Author: World Tourism Organization
Language: English
Subfield: Sociology and Political Science
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W955417676