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James Higham bannerMonday 3 February 2014 1:28pm

Global tourism behaviours are expected to change as concerns about aviation carbon emissions continue to grow.

Global air travel has never been easier or cheaper, but changes are in the wind.

Many travellers are now starting to think about their flights in relation to carbon emissions and climate change. Currently that's not slowing frequent flyers down, however Otago Tourism Professor James Higham believes it's only a matter of time before carbon concerns will influence traveller behaviour. And, given New Zealand's distance from the rest of the world, he is warning that we need to heed this.

Aviation produces a lot of CO2 and other greenhouse gas emissions, so it's the frequent and the long-haul flyers that are the greatest contributors to tourism industry carbon emissions.

Higham has been collaborating with researchers in the UK and Norway to pinpoint exactly what effect climate change is having on long-haul air travel.

His studies on high-carbon-intensity tourism have shown that the environmentally-aware and frequent flying middle classes are acutely aware of the link between air travel and climate change. However, air travel behaviour change has been slow to follow.

He found real concern and acceptance from those in Norway and in Germany that change is needed, but residents enjoy their travel freedom and don't accept carbon emissions are a personal responsibility – they believe that governments should drive change towards low-carbon transport systems. By contrast, in the UK there is widespread distrust of government-led interventions and a resistance to any imposition on personal freedoms, particularly travel.

“Frequent air travel is the phenomenon of this generation – we call it hypermobility. People in affluent countries regularly travel abroad for their holidays, often for several short breaks a year, and are unwilling to sacrifice the privilege. And air travel is faster, more convenient and often much cheaper than other land-based transport modes,” Higham explains.

There are no cross-national government approaches to limit aviation carbon emissions yet and self-sacrifice is not part of the tourist mindset – tourism involves freedom, escape and abandon; even people who buy local food and recycle at home generally put their environmental concerns to one side when they travel.

While there are pockets of consumer-led change in travel decision-making in New Zealand's long-haul markets, pressure is building upon both consumers and governments to reduce carbon emissions. Meanwhile, the stagnation of some of New Zealand's long-haul European markets in recent years is being offset by increasing numbers of visitors from rapidly developing countries like China and India.

However, Higham suggests that it is inevitable that the tourism model of frequent, fast and far-flung air travel will need to be recalibrated.

For the future of its tourism industry, New Zealand therefore needs to lead the way.

We found that many tourists, from Norway for example, may want longer holidays to visit here, changing from numerous short breaks each year to fewer but longer trips.

People may combine travel to New Zealand with work sabbaticals or study abroad, or plan a combined “down-under” visit to New Zealand, Australia, South-East Asia or the Pacific Islands.

Slowing down may mean less “whistle-stop” tourism of the whole country and more localised tourist experiences where people spend a week or more in one destination. Local conservation and volunteer tourism experiences are likely to grow. Carbon-neutral and active transport systems, including cycle trails, present New Zealand with real opportunities.

Climate change presents a range of challenges to the current high-frequency, high-speed carbon-intensive global tourism system. It's clear that aviation-based hypermobility is going to come under ever-increasing scrutiny and, Higham says, New Zealand needs to be a global tourism industry leader in responding to the challenges.

FUNDING

  • University of Otago
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