Tourists' Perception of International Air Travel's Impact on the Global Climate and Potential Climate Change Policies

Abstract

Tourism's increasing contribution to climate change, especially through the use of air travel, is now acknowledged. This study seeks to explore tourists' knowledge and awareness of aviation's impact on the climate, their sense of personal responsibility and their reactions to specific climate change policies. A focus group approach -informed by interviews with international tourists leaving New Zealand -was chosen to involve tourists in discussing climate change and travel. In the focus groups, three policy options were discussed: voluntary initiatives, a global air travel charge and a per capita carbon budget. The global air travel tax emerged as a realistic compromise between restricting travel and achieving emissions reduction. When discussing individual responsibility for greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, tourists distinguished between their travel and their everyday life, where responsibility for mitigation was perceived to be greater. The value of freedom to travel is firmly established in the minds of many tourists and limiting travel is considered unacceptable by the (hyper) mobile tourists who participated in this research. Only major societal changes to bring about behavioural change seem likely to reduce air travel's contribution to climate change.

Climate Change and Sustainable Tourism: Carbon Mitigation by Environmentally Certified Tourism Enterprises

“…However, it is not clear whether marketing their business as "climate friendly" and attempting to attract environmentally concerned tourists to their businesses will pay further dividends. Although the public believes that climate change is a serious problem, prior research has found that these concerns do not influence their travel behavior or demand for ecofriendly holiday destinations (Becken, 2007;Bergin-Seers & Mair, 2009;Eijgelaar et al, 2010;Gössling & Schumacher, 2010;McKercher et al, 2010;Tiller & Schott, 2013). However, the recent research by Cohen and Higham (2011) suggests an increasing number of travelers with a "carbon conscience" may demand these actions by operators in the future.…”

“…Similarly, almost all Antarctic cruise passengers surveyed by Eijgelaar et al (2010) were aware of climate change, but only one fifth believed their travel had a large impact on the problem. Becken's (2007) (Dwyer, Forsyth, Spurr, & Hoque, 2013).…”

“…National, state, and territory government tourism agencies in Australia have also responded by providing information on climate change and carbon mitigation for tourism operators, with Tourism Queensland being one of the more proactive agencies (Zeppel & Beaumont, 2012b). Industry organizations have produced reports on climate change and tourism and provided assistance for their members on carbon mitigation strategies (Queensland Tourism Industry Council [QTIC], 2008;Tourism and Transport Forum [TTF], 2008, 2011).Research has found that the traveling public is aware of the issue of climate change but does not necessarily link it to tourism or their travel behavior (Becken, 2004(Becken, , 2007Eijgelaar, Thaper, & Peeters, 2010;Gössling & Schumacher, 2010;McKercher, Prideaux, Cheung, & Law, 2010;Tiller & Schott, 2013). Recent studies of tourism operators suggest that, while some do not perceive a connection between their operations and climate change (Byrnes & Warnken, 2006;Hall, 2006;Su, Hall, & Ozanne, 2013), others are becoming aware of the link and the need for action on emissions reduction (Gössling & Schumacher, 2010;Zeppel, 2012a).…”

Where words fail, visuals ignite

“…Mohsin, 2005) and awareness (e.g. Becken, 2007), or identity construction in tourism (e.g. Palmer, 2005) to name but a few.…”

Applying a Comprehensive Contextual Climate Change Vulnerability Framework to New Zealand’s Tourism Industry

“…New Zealand's Ministry for Tourism (2009, np) acknowledged that: ''New Zealand's distance from most key markets makes journey-related greenhouse gas emissions, costs and consumer perceptions key issues for the sector.'' Research has been undertaken to explore the perceptions of outbound visitors (from New Zealand) (Becken 2007) and international public perceptions of the extreme long-haul travel required to visit New Zealand (Cohen and Higham 2011) and has indicated contradictions in concern and behaviors. This could denote a requirement for government scale intervention to incorporate aviation emissions into emissions reductions targets.…”