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How Climate Change Affects Tourism: The Case of Costa Blanca Tour Services

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Introduction
Climate change is not just a global challenge—it directly impacts key sectors like tourism. Costa Blanca Tour Services (CBTs), a microenterprise located in Costa Blanca, has taken proactive steps to assess how rising temperatures, seasonality, and European regulations affect its operations. In this post, we share our findings and the adaptive strategies we’ve implemented to ensure sustainability.


The Impact of Climate Change on Tourism
Tourism is one of the most climate-sensitive sectors due to its heavy reliance on environmental conditions. In Costa Blanca, we’ve observed:

  • A steady rise in average temperatures since 2009.
  • Seasonal shifts, with increased demand during moderate months like February and October.
  • A stagnation in extreme heat months such as August.

These changes have pushed tourism businesses, including microenterprises like CBTs, to rethink their strategies to remain competitive and sustainable.


Our Response: Sustainability and Adaptation
At Costa Blanca Tour Services, we’ve adopted several measures to adapt to climate change:

  1. Reducing Our Carbon Footprint:
    • We replaced diesel and gasoline vehicles with electric and hybrid options, achieving a 64% reduction in CO₂ emissions since 2017.
  2. Diversifying Activities:
    • We introduced water-based activities and adjusted operating hours during extreme heat months to meet evolving customer demands.
  3. Alignment with the Green Taxonomy and PACCs:
    • We incorporated sustainable strategies from the European Green Taxonomy and local Climate Action Plans (PACCs) of Benidorm and Calpe, promoting sustainable mobility, activity diversification, and biodiversity protection.

Key Findings
Our analysis revealed:

  • A positive correlation between moderate temperatures and revenue, highlighting the importance of tailoring activities to favorable climate conditions.
  • Sustainability efforts not only reduced our environmental impact but also enhanced our reputation and competitiveness within the tourism sector.

Future Actions
This project is just the beginning. Our next steps include:

  • Continuously monitoring the relationship between climate change and revenue.
  • Developing a replicable methodology for other microenterprises in the tourism sector.
  • Expanding collaborations with environmental and social organizations, such as Greenpeace, Xaloc Mar, and FESORD.
  • Doctoral research on climate change and its impact on the tourism sector at the University of Alicante.

Climate change is a challenge, but it also presents an opportunity to innovate and lead in sustainability. At Costa Blanca Tour Services, we believe that adapting is not just a necessity—it’s a responsibility. Join us on our journey toward more sustainable tourism!


Interested in learning more about our initiatives or collaborating with us? Visit our website at Costa Blanca Tour Services and join our commitment to sustainability. 🌍