WTO warns of climate change hazards

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The World Tourism Organisation has called for more research into climate change as hurricanes and floods threaten the "health and safety" of the industry.

Secretary general Francesco Frangialli said businesses, tourists and economies which rely on tourism all face dangers from the unpredictable and volatile climate.

He told a conference on climate that more research is needed to assess the full impact climate change is having - and will continue to have in the future.

"Climate change will constitute an increasing risk for tourism operations in many destinations," he said. "With many tourism activities heavily dependent on the climate and insurance policies increasingly affected by natural hazards, accurate weather forecasting of extreme events are becoming ever more important for tourism businesses.

"Whatever the environmental outcome, tourism cannot be seen in isolation," he went on. "Major changes in the pattern of tourism demand will lead to a wider impact on many areas of economic and social policy."

Frangialli said beach destinations, winter sports resorts and all outdoor activities rely on a stable climate on a daily basis.

The long term effects of extreme weather also have a damaging knock-on effect with images of hurricanes and flooding deterring people from travelling and hitting local economies.

Aaron

[bruce]

Hopefully as the costs start to rise more people will have an 'incentive' to do something about it. I just hope it isn't too late by then.

[Zoltan Paul Jambor]

He told a conference on climate that more research is needed to assess the full impact climate change is having - and will continue to have in the future.

Of course more research needs to be done. But while we wait for the results, we are merely wasting precious time. We have enough facts and figures at our disposal to initiate more radical changes today. Only we can save ourselves.

Many governments and organizations are on board with scientists who call for more evidence or research. Why shouln't they? Their aim is to waste more time, so they can make more money before changes start happening, that might force them into altrernative ways of making money.

Action needs to be taken now. Only the rich and the powerful have to gain by waiting. Everyone else has everything to lose. This is a simple fact that people simply have to face before it's too late to act.

ZPJ