A Climate for Change

Human Development Report - Croatia 2008 Tourism^69

derstand the impacts of climate change, the actions
that should be taken to offset/ prevent tourism losses,
and the private-public sector dialogue needed to im-
plement actions. How can the private sector adapt to
these impacts and how can the public sector facilitate
this adaptation?

The private sector in both the local and national econ-
omies can be expected to adjust to losses (Box 4-4 for
more information on adaptation concepts in tourism).
In the short-run, this may result in the economic de-
cline of local communities which are dependant on

tourism, higher unemployment and rural-urban mi-

gration. In the long-run, these declines will be offset

to some extent by investments in new and existing

industries, with shifts in the industrial structure of the

country. However, the public sector also has a role to

play in coping with climate change, both in the short-

and long-run, even if it is currently unclear what that

role will be. Table 4-4 presents a general overview of the

type of adjustments that might be taken by the private

and public sectors to adapt to climate change in Croatia.

Potential adaptations to sea-level rise may also become

necessary. These are analysed further in Chapter 5.

Adjustments to adapt to climate

change Detailed explanation

Reducing the sensitivity of local

tourism-dependant economies to

climate change

Autonomous and planned adjustments by the private and public sectors in local communi-

ties – identifying alternative income-generating activities in communities that are heavily de-

pendent upon beach-based tourism. For example, tourism promotion could include cultural

activities, such as film, music and theatre festivals, food, historical sites like Dubrovnik, ancient

ruins, the Pula coliseum, etc. This could also include providing indoor pools, wellness tourism,

air-conditioned entertainment, and other amenities. This is already underway within the gen-

eral strategic framework of tourism development in focusing on rural tourism development,

but can be especially important within the context of climate change threats.

Increasing work with tourism firms

and actors to enhance marketing

abilities at home and abroad. This

may include helping to improve

capacities for management and host-

ing tourists.

This is already undertaken by the Croatian National Tourist Board and through private sector

investment. This would involve enhancing and promoting the non-climate related charac-

teristics of Croatia’s tourism, such as levels of service, amenities and comfort, as well as the

perceived level of luxury. In recent years, much of the growth in the tourism industry has relied

on these sorts of improvements. In order to ensure that human development is enhanced,

continued attention should be paid to the most vulnerable groups, including seasonal work-

ers with lower qualifications, local people who have less access to capital and education, and

those that are least likely to handle the risks if tourism is negatively affected.

Changing the thermal efficiency of

buildings

Provide incentives for builders, building owners and lending institutions to increase the

thermal efficiency of existing and new buildings, through more economically-efficient pricing

of energy, programmes to encourage the financing of these measures based on life-cycle

cost principles and the promulgation of voluntary and/or mandatory buildings efficiency

standards. While the MEPPPC has already implemented standards for energy efficiency in new

buildings, companies and individuals should be encouraged to go above and beyond the

basic requirements in order to save on cooling costs and make tourist destination hotels and

guest houses more comfortable.

Developing additional water supplies Developing additional supplies, water purification and waste treatment facilities for coastal

communities – especially on the islands, where water supplies are already tight.

Increasing water-use efficiency Encouraging water conservation through higher water and energy tariffs, programmes to

encourage banks to make loans for the installation of complementary energy efficient and

water-saving technology based on life-cycle cost principles, or through voluntary and/or

mandatory energy and water conservation standards.

Reducing risks of natural disasters in

tourist areas

Increasing the focus of national and local governments in coping with climate-based risks that

threaten tourist areas, such as fires, floods, storms, and heat waves, by improved disaster risk

management planning and investment.

Protecting fragile, climate-sensitive

ecosystems

Undertaking both active and passive measures to protect and restore ecosystems vulnerable

to climate change.

Table 4-4: Types of adaptations to climate change in the tourism sector