Climate Change Is Messing Up Australia's Tourism Industry

Australia: no Eiffel Tower, but plenty of nice beaches. Our thriving multi-billion dollar tourist industry takes advantage of all those pristine sandy coastlines and temperate rainforests and spectacular coral reefs and vivid red desertscapes. Unfortunately, a new report from the Climate Council shows how our most popular tourist destinations are increasingly under threat as climate change accelerates.

It’s not just the Great Barrier Reef (RIP) that’s at risk—all of our most iconic spots could fall victim to rising temperatures and sea levels. The reef is already suffering the effects of record-breaking high ocean temperatures, whereas Uluru is becoming an increasingly non-viable destination in summer. It’s predicted that by 2030 the Red Centre could experience more than 100 days above 35 degrees per year.

Meanwhile, rising sea levels mean saltwater is invading the freshwater wetlands of Kakadu National Park, and Australian ski resorts have been experiencing progressively shorter snow seasons for the past 25 years. The report identifies Australia’s top five attractions for overseas visitors as our beaches, wildlife, the Great Barrier Reef, wilderness areas, and national parks. None of them are exactly climate change proof.

As the report highlights, extreme temperatures don’t just make tourist destinations less comfortable for visitors. They also pose health risks as warm waters mean jellyfish are spreading further south in Queensland, and changing rainfall patterns are increasing risks of mosquito-borne diseases in rainforest areas. When international tourists were surveyed about the impact of climate change on Australia's beaches, up to 23 percent of them said they were likely to switch destinations if they'd been aware of beach damage.

It all sounds kind of bad, but there are no plans to start sandbagging the Sydney Opera House just yet. And while tourism is Australia's second most profitable export, recent federal and state government tourism plans make no mention of mitigation measures to combat the potential negative impacts of climate change on the industry.