Climate, Weather, and Tourism Initiative
Publications | Conference Presentations | Workshop Presentations | Seasonal Weather | Business Tip Sheets | Briefing Papers | Additional Resources
Tourism destinations and their individual tourism businesses are all vying for the expenditures and vitality that tourists bring to their respective locations. But, in making travel choices, these vacationers have considerations besides distance, cost, and timing. They are also considering the daily or weekly weather and other climate factors when determining both where to go and the extent to which they enjoyed their travel experience. The World Tourism Organization, in meetings addressing weather, climate, and tourism, noted that weather and climate are perhaps the most important influence on the choice of leisure travel destinations. Wind, humidity, temperature, drought, storm conditions, snow conditions, water temperature, and degree of sunshine are a few of the factors that affect the visitors’ decisions, satisfaction, and spending—that important economic "bottom line" for tourism businesses and tourism destinations.
In addition to the workshop and publications under this initiative, the Center’s activities in this initiative include a presentation at the National Weather Service and RENCI Summit on Decision Support Services and Technology and a joint research effort on recreational businesses and weather with faculty from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington.
